Frequency-comb-steered ultrawideband quasi-true-time-delay beamformer for integrated sensing and communication
Abstract Ultrawideband beamforming is essential for next-generation radar and communication systems, however, the instantaneous bandwidth of phase-shifter-based phased array antennas (PAAs) is limited by beam squint. Photonic true-time-delay (TTD) beamformers offer a potential solution, yet their pr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62854-z |
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| _version_ | 1849234663314292736 |
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| author | Mian Wang Wenxin Zhang Zeyu Ren Shangyuan Li Xiaoping Zheng Xiaoxiao Xue |
| author_facet | Mian Wang Wenxin Zhang Zeyu Ren Shangyuan Li Xiaoping Zheng Xiaoxiao Xue |
| author_sort | Mian Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Ultrawideband beamforming is essential for next-generation radar and communication systems, however, the instantaneous bandwidth of phase-shifter-based phased array antennas (PAAs) is limited by beam squint. Photonic true-time-delay (TTD) beamformers offer a potential solution, yet their practical deployment is hindered by complex delay-line architectures. Here, we report a frequency-comb-steered photonic quasi-TTD beamforming approach that eliminates delay lines by leveraging frequency-diverse arrays and photonic microwave mixing arrays. This enables squint-free beamforming and continuous beam steering for widely used linear frequency modulation (LFM) waveforms, effectively delivering infinite spatial resolution. We present 16-element linear and 4×4 planar PAA prototypes, achieving 6 GHz instantaneous bandwidth across the entire Ku-band. Furthermore, we demonstrate integrated sensing and communication capabilities, including inverse synthetic aperture radar imaging with 2.6 × 3.0 cm resolution and 4.8 Gbps wireless transmission. This work establishes a compact, robust, and scalable architecture for ultrawideband, large-scale photonic PAAs, paving the way for future integrated radar and communication systems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-02cf007bf9264616b4b420545e5d4102 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-02cf007bf9264616b4b420545e5d41022025-08-20T04:03:03ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-08-0116111210.1038/s41467-025-62854-zFrequency-comb-steered ultrawideband quasi-true-time-delay beamformer for integrated sensing and communicationMian Wang0Wenxin Zhang1Zeyu Ren2Shangyuan Li3Xiaoping Zheng4Xiaoxiao Xue5Department of Electronic Engineering, Beijing National Research Center for Information Science and Technology, Tsinghua UniversityDepartment of Electronic Engineering, Beijing National Research Center for Information Science and Technology, Tsinghua UniversityDepartment of Electronic Engineering, Beijing National Research Center for Information Science and Technology, Tsinghua UniversityDepartment of Electronic Engineering, Beijing National Research Center for Information Science and Technology, Tsinghua UniversityDepartment of Electronic Engineering, Beijing National Research Center for Information Science and Technology, Tsinghua UniversityDepartment of Electronic Engineering, Beijing National Research Center for Information Science and Technology, Tsinghua UniversityAbstract Ultrawideband beamforming is essential for next-generation radar and communication systems, however, the instantaneous bandwidth of phase-shifter-based phased array antennas (PAAs) is limited by beam squint. Photonic true-time-delay (TTD) beamformers offer a potential solution, yet their practical deployment is hindered by complex delay-line architectures. Here, we report a frequency-comb-steered photonic quasi-TTD beamforming approach that eliminates delay lines by leveraging frequency-diverse arrays and photonic microwave mixing arrays. This enables squint-free beamforming and continuous beam steering for widely used linear frequency modulation (LFM) waveforms, effectively delivering infinite spatial resolution. We present 16-element linear and 4×4 planar PAA prototypes, achieving 6 GHz instantaneous bandwidth across the entire Ku-band. Furthermore, we demonstrate integrated sensing and communication capabilities, including inverse synthetic aperture radar imaging with 2.6 × 3.0 cm resolution and 4.8 Gbps wireless transmission. This work establishes a compact, robust, and scalable architecture for ultrawideband, large-scale photonic PAAs, paving the way for future integrated radar and communication systems.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62854-z |
| spellingShingle | Mian Wang Wenxin Zhang Zeyu Ren Shangyuan Li Xiaoping Zheng Xiaoxiao Xue Frequency-comb-steered ultrawideband quasi-true-time-delay beamformer for integrated sensing and communication Nature Communications |
| title | Frequency-comb-steered ultrawideband quasi-true-time-delay beamformer for integrated sensing and communication |
| title_full | Frequency-comb-steered ultrawideband quasi-true-time-delay beamformer for integrated sensing and communication |
| title_fullStr | Frequency-comb-steered ultrawideband quasi-true-time-delay beamformer for integrated sensing and communication |
| title_full_unstemmed | Frequency-comb-steered ultrawideband quasi-true-time-delay beamformer for integrated sensing and communication |
| title_short | Frequency-comb-steered ultrawideband quasi-true-time-delay beamformer for integrated sensing and communication |
| title_sort | frequency comb steered ultrawideband quasi true time delay beamformer for integrated sensing and communication |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62854-z |
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