Time delay beam formation

摘要

Optical systems are disclosed which are capable of generating and rapidly changing time delays of electrical signals for true time delay beam formation and beam steering. The systems utilize an interferometer configuration. A first optical modulator and a Fourier transform lens define a Fourier transform plane in a first leg of the interferometer. In a second leg of the interferometer, a second optical modulator provides beam steering to a prism stack, which produces a set of plane reference waves having a range of orientations required to generate a desired range of time delays. Preferably the optical modulators are acousto optic Bragg cells. Alternatively, a holographic optic element could be used in place of the prism stack.