Optically Steerable Phased Array Enabling Technology Based on Mesogenic Azobenzene Liquid Crystals for Starlink Towards 6G

We designed, fabricated, and characterised novel all-optically driven passive phase shifters (0-π) at X band based on nematic liquid crystals (GT3) admixed with mesogenic azo dye (CPND7). Thanks to the functional mixture, the developed all-optical phase tuning device enables the removal of voltage-driven networks required by conventional tunable solutions. The embedded light intensity-dependent impedance matching mechanism allows the insertion loss equalisation inherently between phase delaying states, hence removing bulky amplifiers or attenuators for amplitude compensations. The highly scalable planar standalone technology is envisaged to complement the existing electronically steered phased array antenna systems targeting continuous broadband connectivity for SATCOM on the move, and holistically address the future communications demand from various sectors of the economy.