Voltage-controlled optical/RF phase shifter

A new fiber-optic device designed to steer the radiation beam of a phased-array antenna has been demonstrated. A radiofrequency (RF) signal at 125 MHz is generated via photomixing at the output of a single-mode fiber-optic interferometer. The phase of the electrical signal is shifted over several cycles in direct proportion to a voltage applied to an optical controller. The controller consists of a Pockels-type optical phase modulator located in one arm of the heterodyne interferometer. Rapid changes in RF phase are feasible. A miniature low-voltage version of the device, based upon integrated optics, is proposed.