Recirculating photonic filter: A wavelength-selective time delay for optically controlled phased-array antenna

A wavelength-selective photonic time delay filter is proposed and demonstrated. The device consists of an optical phased-array waveguide grating in a recirculating feedback configuration. It can function as a true-time-delay generator for squint-free beam steering in optically-controlled phased-array antennas. As the photonic filter uses the optical carrier wavelength to select the desired time delay, a one-to-one map is established between the optical carrier wavelength and the desired antenna direction, thus eliminating complex switching networks required to select the appropriate delay line. The proposed device can also function as the encoder/decoder in wavelength-CDMA. The concept uses a waveguide prism in a symmetric feedback (recirculating) configuration. The modulated optical carrier is steered by the waveguide prism to the appropriate integrated delay line depending on the carrier wavelength. The signal is delayed and is fed back into the symmetric input port. The prism then focuses the delayed beam into the common output port. Thus three sequential operations are performed : (1) wavelength demultiplexing (2) time delay and (3) wavelength multiplexing. It is important to note that the recirculating photonic filter has no 1/N loss; all the power at a given wavelength is diffracted into the output port. Furthermore, high resolution (6-8 bits) can be obtained in a compact integrated device. A prototype regular recirculating photonic filter true-time delay (RPF TTD) device was realized using an 8-channel arrayed-waveguide grating demultiplexer and external ( off-chip) fiber delay lines. The,orating was fabricated in the silica waveguide technology with 0.8nm channel spacing (FSR=6.4nm) and operating in the 1.5 mu m wavelength range. Light from an external cavity tunable laser was r.f. modulated at 10 - 40MHz and was coupled into the arrayed waveguide grating chip and time/phase measurements were performed using a digital oscilloscope. Feedback delay lines consisted of optical fibers of different lengths connected between 4 symmetric pairs of input and output ports. The results clearly demonstrate the Recirculating Photonic Filter's ability to perform wavelength-selective true-time delay. Furthermore, as expected, the delay has the desired property of being independent of r.f. frequency.