Antenna beamforming using optical processing

Antenna beamforming using optical processingL. P. Anderson, F. Boldissar, D. C. D. ChangHughes Aircraft Company, Space and Communications GroupP. 0. Box 92919, El Segundo, California 90245ABSTRACTThis work concerns intself with the analytical investigation into the feasibility of opticalprocessor based beamforming for microwave array antennas. The primary focus is on systemsutilizing the 20/30 GHz communications band and a transmit configuration exclusively toserve this band.A mathematical model is developed for computation of candidate design configurations. Themodel is capable of determination of the necessary design parameters required for spatialaspects of the microwave "footprint" (beam) formation. Computed example beams transmittedfrom geosynchronous orbit are presented to demonstrate network capabilities.