Optically Controlled Reconfigurable Antenna Array for mm-Wave Applications

This letter reports the concept and development of the first optically controlled reconfigurable antenna for millimeter-wave (mm-wave) applications. It is based on a slotted-waveguide antenna array and two photoconductive switches, which are used to control the slot electrical length. This novel photonics-based reconfigurable strategy enables frequency tunability and radiation pattern reconfiguration through the 28- and 38-GHz frequency bands. Numerical simulations and experimental results illustrate its applicability for mm-wave indoor applications. The measured gain is approximately 8.0 and 9.0 dBi at 28 and 38 GHz, respectively.