The Study of Nonlinear Photonic Millimeter Wave Tunable True-Time Delay Modules

Millimeter waves may be one of the key fifth generation (5G) mobile communication network enablers in the future. This project propose a new photonic millimeter wave tunable true-time delay (TTD) module with separate carrier tuning (SCT) using dual-parallel Mach-Zehnder modulator and stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS)-induced slow light. Both the slow light and single-sideband modulation (SSB) can be simultaneously achieved in the stimulated Brillouin scattering process. The phase of the optical carrier can be continuously and precisely controlled by simply adjusting the dc bias of the dual-parallel Mach-Zehnder modulator. In addition, we will study slow light via stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in a room temperature optical fiber that is pumped by a spectrally broadened laser. Broadening the spectrum of the pump field will increase the linewidth of the Stokes amplifying resonance, thereby increasing the Brillouin slow-light bandwidth to over 12 GHz from its nominal linewidth of about 30 MHz obtained for monochromatic pumping. Moreover, we will implement a 60 GHz millimeter wave phase array antenna combined with the proposed photonic millimeter wave tunable true-time delay module and 3D beamforming technique to increase to operate the possibility for the vertically directional beam. The millimeter wave beam can be focusing and pointing the vertical main lobe directly at the small area or the user equipment (UE). Finally, we will set up an experimental system to demonstrate that the proposed technique and module will contribute to the efficiency of capacity and energy that promotes whole fifth generation mobile communication systems.

Project ID:PB10507-2944
External Project ID:MOST105-2221-E182-029