Antenna Beamforming Using Optical Processing

Abstract

This work concerns intself with the analytical investigation into the feasibility of optical processor based beamforming for microwave array antennas. The primary focus is on systems utilizing the 20/30 GHz communications band and a transmit configuration exclusively to serve this band. A mathematical model is developed for computation of candidate design configurations. The model is capable of determination of the necessary design parameters required for spatial aspects of the microwave "footprint" (beam) formation. Computed example beams transmitted from geosynchronous orbit are presented to demonstrate network capabilities.