Conceptual design and analysis of a compact liquid crystal on silicon non-mechanical optical beam steering antenna for lean platforms

Abstract

We present concept design of an innovative, compact, non-mechanical optical beam steering antenna with an experimental liquid crystal beam shaper optimized for lean platforms. Laser communication terminals in air and space-borne platforms must fulfil the low-SWaP (size, weight, and power) design philosophy which is often a challenging task when utilizing mechanical steerers like prisms, MEMS fast steering mirrors, lenslet arrays, gimbal movers etc. We introduce the approach of a compact photonics integrated circuit consisting of power division network, optical phase array antennas and liquid crystal on silicon structure to form a laser transmitting module for a CubeSat. An Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier provide adequate optical power output that can facilitate a baseline free-space communication link margin at 1550nm. The design parameters were tuned to achieve to minimal divergence and adequate beam steering angle, higher EIRP, high beam switching speed and tolerance of space environmental conditions. Applications are numerous and not limited to optical communication terminals on drones, aircrafts, and satellites; automotive LiDAR systems, medical and scientific instrumentation devices are also promising areas of rapid adoption and integration.

Opto-thermo-mechanical phenomena in satellite free-space optical communications: survey and challenges

“…148 Furthermore, several techniques have been proposed to simultaneously steer and shape the beam combining the previous with variable focal lenses. 142,149 Further research is required to enable the use of these devices in FSOC terminals in space, especially regarding their performance and lifetime under the periodic temperature changes to which they would be exposed. Some of the non-mechanical beam steering techniques presented above are based on integrated photonic circuits.…”

“…There is a vast diversity of non-mechanical beam steering techniques, such as those based on liquid crystal devices, 144 – 146 optical phased arrays, 147 and focal plane switch array 148 . Furthermore, several techniques have been proposed to simultaneously steer and shape the beam combining the previous with variable focal lenses 142 , 149 . Further research is required to enable the use of these devices in FSOC terminals in space, especially regarding their performance and lifetime under the periodic temperature changes to which they would be exposed.…”