Study of Interference Patterns in the Far Field of an Optical Phased Antenna Array with Electro-Optical Control

This paper provides a justification for the relevance of the development of non-mechanical laser beam control systems for organizing an inter-satellite optical communication links. Methods of laser beam control are described. Brief theoretical basis for the formation of the radiation pattern of optical phased antenna arrays are given. The radiation patterns of optical phased antenna arrays with radiating elements implemented in the integrated and fiber forms on a lithium niobate crystal and a multicore fiber are studied. An infrared camera was used to record interference patterns in the far zone. The phase delay between the channels was controlled using electro-optical phase shifters. It has been experimentally proven that when voltage is applied to the phase shifters, it is possible to control the position of the peak Of
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radiation pattern. This confirms the possibility of using the studied optical phased antenna arrays to control a laser beam in free space optical communication lines.