Highly steerable microwave beamforming system near Ku band based on the application of linearly CFBG

Abstract

In this study, the authors present theoretical and experimental results of wideband beamforming networks steered by a single linear chirped fibre Bragg grating (CFBG). The standard single-sideband modulation technique is followed to validate the wideband (at 18 GHz) operation of the proposed system. CFBG has been fabricated by phase mask technology for the desired specification to be compatible with the antenna array. To the authors knowledge, the effect of dispersion slope feature of fabricated FBG on the performance of beam-steering capability of the antenna is reported for the first time in this study. Theoretically preceded by experimental testing, it was found that the scanning angle increased with the rise in the number of antenna elements and the frequency of modulating microwave signal. © 2019 The Institution of Engineering and Technology.