Active retrodirective antenna array with a virtual beacon

摘要

An active retrodirective antenna array is provisioned with a virtual beacon for use with uncooperative targets. An RF pilot signal is imposed onto an optical carrier beam and directed at a target. The scattered optical carrier beam is optically detected by a plurality of the retrodirective array nodes to extract the RF pilot signal. Each recovered RF pilot-signal is phase-conjugated with a phase reference signal, amplified and retransmitted towards the target where the RF beams add-in phase at the virtual beacon. The array may be used to complete an RF communication link with the target, to transfer microwave power from orbiting solar power stations to a target or as a directed energy weapon to prosecute the target.

主权项

1. A method of directing RF energy from an active retrodirective antenna array onto an uncooperative target, said array comprising a plurality of nodes that each transmit RF energy, comprising:
directing an optical carrier beam with a first RF pilot signal imposed thereon into a spot on the target, said target scattering the optical carrier beam to illuminate a plurality of the nodes of the retrodirective array to form a virtual beacon; and at each of the plurality of illuminated nodes in the retrodirective array,
optically detecting the scattered optical carrier beam to extract a second RF pilot signal including a phase accumulated during propagation from the target to said node;processing the second RF pilot signal and a phase reference signal to produce a phase-conjugated RF pilot signal; andamplifying and retransmitting the phase-conjugated RF pilot signal towards the target.