Accession Number:

ADA370727

Title:

Ultra Long Compact Polymer-Based Waveguide Circuit for Multi-link Optical True-Time-Delay Lines Using WDM Technique. Phase 1

Descriptive Note:

Final rept. 1 Aug 98-30 Sep 99

Corporate Author:

RADIANT RESEARCH INC AUSTIN TX

Personal Author(s):

• Tang, Suning
• Chen, Ray T.

Report Date:

1999-09-30

Pagination or Media Count:

37.0

Abstract:

The optical true-time-delay line is a crucial building block for future photonic phased array antennas. In this research program, we have developed an integrated optical true-time-delay module based on ultra low-loss polymeric waveguides that have many advantages over existing approaches. The photolithography defined polymeric waveguides enable us to fabricate a 10-meter long optical channel waveguide circuit with sub-micron accuracy in a five-inch silicon wafer, providing optical true-time-delays over tens of nanoseconds with sub-picosecond time resolution. The unique detector-switched operation achieves a nanosecond switching time over 60 GHz bandwidth. Optical heterodyne technique is developed to generate optical RF signal in the range from 0-60 GHz. The demonstrated optical waveguide true-time-delay module employs wavelength-division-multiplexing technique for multi-beam operation. The monolithic integration of the polymeric channel waveguides, waveguide grating couplers, and high-speed photodetectors drastically reduces the system payload and the packaging complexity while improving the system reliability. Through the Phase I research, we have successfully demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed concept by realizing an integrated optical true-time-delay module based on ultra low-loss polymeric waveguide circuits.

Descriptors:

• *POLYMERS
• *WAVEGUIDES
• *INTEGRATED CIRCUITS
• *ANTENNA ARRAYS
• *WAVELENGTH DIVISION MULTIPLEXING
• PAYLOAD
• HETERODYNING
• HIGH VELOCITY
• OPTICAL WAVEGUIDES
• LOW LOSS
• RELIABILITY
• SIGNALS
• SILICON
• PHOTONS
• WAFERS
• MONOLITHIC STRUCTURES(ELECTRONICS)
• PHOTODETECTORS
• SWITCHING
• RADIOFREQUENCY
• MULTIPLE BEAMS(RADIATION)
• PHOTOLITHOGRAPHY
• DELAY LINES
• TIME DELAY RELAYS
• WAVEGUIDE COUPLERS

Subject Categories:

• Electrooptical and Optoelectronic Devices

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE