Efficient optical control of microwave circuits, antennas and arrays

We present an overview of work at the University of Colorado in the area of optical control of microwave circuits, antennas and active antenna arrays. Specifically, we present X-band examples of two types of optically controlled microwave components: those where the optical device is used as a microwave component; and those where a standard optical component is combined with standard microwave components. The former is a slot antenna controlled with a PD in the feedline; and the latter example is that of a photodiode that controls the bias to a microwave SPDT switch. This switch is integrated with a transmit/receive (T/R) active antenna, which is then used as an element of a quasi-optical T/R array.