Photonic Switched True Time Delay (TTD) Beam Forming Network

Photonic links and networks offer numerous advantages to analog RF systems including inherent wide bandwidths, a harness exhibiting a reduced size, weight and improved flexibility, and nearly lossless signal. Current all-electronic delay line systems based on microwave components suffer from high signal loss and dispersion as well as large size and weight. An efficient way to achieve true-time-delay beamforming is to use optic fiber dynamic delay lines. In this SBIR program, Dymas Research proposes to develop an innovative high-performance programmable true-time-delay module using our high-performance photonic devices. This is especially of benefit to phased array antennas and optic telecommunications.