Simulation Of A Phased Array Beam Expander To Predict Far-Field Performance

Michael F Abernathy; Michael D Wolfe

doi:10.1117/12.937585

2 March 1984 Simulation Of A Phased Array Beam Expander To Predict Far-Field Performance

Michael F Abernathy, Michael D Wolfe

Proceedings Volume 0440, Synthetic Aperture Systems I; (1984) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.937585
Event: 27th Annual Technical Symposium, 1983, San Diego, United States

Abstract

Recently a concept has emerged which may significantly change large scale laser beam expander technology. The phased array synthetic aperture beam expander concept seeks to create a large synthetic aperture by phasing and aligning several smaller subaperture telescopes. This concept may offer enormous advantages in the cost and feasibility of optics fabrication, and on a system level provides greater modularity, as well as a more compact and optomechanically stable structure. Along with these advantages come scientific and technical issues regarding system feasibility, control, and comparative performance. The Air Force PHASAR experiment will answer many questions about the application of this beam expander concept. Any application of a PASABE system may utilize the far-field intensity pattern as a measure of effective system performance, as it is a quantitative measure of the way in which energy is delivered to the reciever or target. By incorporating important aspects of system operation, such as subaperture misalignment into a far-field propagation simulation we may learn a great deal about the performance of a system under various conditions. In order to support the design and testing of the Air Force PHASAR, a specialized propagation code called OPALS was developed to simulate far-field performance of multiaperture bex systems. The purpose of this paper is to present a perspective on the objectives, constraints and methods used in developing such a simu-lation.

Citation Download Citation

Michael F Abernathy and Michael D Wolfe "Simulation Of A Phased Array Beam Expander To Predict Far-Field Performance", Proc. SPIE 0440, Synthetic Aperture Systems I, (2 March 1984); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.937585

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