Programmable True Time Delay Lines Using Integrated Waveguide Meshes

Authors:
Open Access
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
We analyze and explore the potential that waveguide-mesh-based architectures used in Programmable Photonic Integrated Circuits can be configured to enable true time optical delay lines, which can find applications in different Microwave Photonics functionalities, such as beamforming and optical filtering. We also propose and experimentally demonstrate an alternative standalone Tunable Basic Unit architecture where its internal coupling device is implemented by means of a Tunable Directional Coupler (TDC) that performs independent amplitude beamsplitting and phase shifting. Compared to the previous alternatives based on 3 dB Balanced Mach-Zhender Interferometers (MZIs), the TDC reduces by more than two times the insertion losses of TBUs enabling the potential realization of larger meshes with a three-fold enhanced step-time resolution. Bandwidth and robustness analysis are also considered.
Funding Information
  • H2020 European Research Council (ERC-ADG-2016-471715 UMWP-CHIP)
  • COST action (CA16220 EUWMP)
  • Spanish MINECO (TEC2014-60378-C2-1-R)
  • Gen. Valenciana PROMETEO (2017/103)

This publication has 35 references indexed in Scilit: