Optically Steered MM-wave Grating Surface Emitter

A wafer form high power steerable source at millimeter wave integrating an IMPAIT and an antenna is envisioned. In this paper, a unit cell configuration which consists of the IMPAIT source coupled to a top-metallized-image (TMI) guide was first modeled and then constructed and measured. Approximately 60% of the power obtainable in a high Q cavity was coupled to the TMI guide. Grating calculations and measurements were performed on an optically induced periodic structure in a dielectric guide with base metal (an image guide) showing that it is emulated by the TM/ guide with slots cut in the top metal forming a grating. The measured results on the fabricated unit cell and the optical calculations combine to prove the concept of the optically steered MMW integrated source.