Continuously-Variable Time Delays from Photonics

Proposed is the development of a new innovative photonics concept for high dynamic range, continuously variable, true time delay beamforming. Acousto-optic Bragg cells are not used to obtain the continuum of delays in this approach. Advantages of the proposed concept are high dynamic range (especially important for receive mode), wide bandwidth, rapid change of time delays, fine control of delays over a continuum, and simplicity of the architecture. The proposed concept will be further refined and analyzed. Feasibility will be assessed in terms of expected performance, manufacturability, cost comparison to conventional means, and ease of use. Comparisons will also be made with acousto-optic Bragg cell time delay controllers.