This dissertation proposes, studies and experimentally demonstrates novel liquid crystal (LC) optics to solve challenging problems in RF and photonic signal processing, freespace and fiber optic communications and microscopic imaging. These include free-space optical scanners for military and optical wireless applications, variable fiber-optic attenuators for optical communications, photonic control techniques for phased array antennas and radar, and 3-D microscopic imaging. At the heart of the applications demonstrated in this thesis are LC devices that are non-pixelated and can be controlled either electrically or optically. Instead of the typical pixel-by-pixel control as is custom in LC devices, the phase profile across the aperture of these novel LC devices is varied through the use of high impedance layers. Due to the presence of the high impedance layer, there forms a voltage gradient across the aperture of such a device which results in a phase gradient across the LC layer which in turn is accumulated by the optical beam traversing through this LC device. The geometry of the electrical contacts that are used to apply the external voltage will define the nature of the phase gradient present across the optical beam. In order to steer a laser beam in one angular dimension, straight line electrical contacts are used to form a one dimensional phase gradient while an annular electrical contact results in a circularly symmetric phase profile across the optical beam making it suitable for focusing the optical beam. The geometry of the electrical contacts alone is not sufficient to form the linear and the quadratic phase profiles that are required to either deflect or focus an optical beam. Clever use of the phase response of a typical nematic liquid crystal (NLC) is made such that the linear response region is used for the angular beam deflection while the high voltage quadratic response region is used for focusing the beam. Employing an NLC deflector, a device that uses the linear angular deflection, laser beam steering is demonstrated in two orthogonal dimensions whereas an NLC lens is used to address the third dimension to complete a three dimensional (3-D) scanner. Such an NLC deflector was then used in a variable optical attenuator (VOA), whereby a laser beam coupled between two identical single mode fibers (SMF) was mis-aligned away from the output fiber causing the intensity of the output coupled light to decrease as a function of the angular deflection. Since the angular deflection is electrically controlled, hence the VOA operation is fairly simple and repeatable. An extension of this VOA for wavelength tunable operation is also shown in this dissertation. A LC spatial light modulator (SLM) that uses a photo-sensitive high impedance electrode whose impedance can be varied by controlling the light intensity incident on it, is used in a control system for a phased array antenna. Phase is controlled on the Write side of the SLM by controlling the intensity of the Write laser beam which then is accessed by the Read beam from the opposite side of this reflective SLM. Thus the phase of the Read beam is varied by controlling the intensity of the Write beam. A variable fiber-optic delay line is demonstrated in the thesis which uses wavelength sensitive and wavelength insensitive optics to get both analog as well as digital delays. It uses a chirped fiber Bragg grating (FBG), and a 1xN optical switch to achieve multiple time delays. The switch can be implemented using the 3-D optical scanner mentioned earlier. A technique is presented for ultra-low loss laser communication that uses a combination of strong and weak thin lens optics. As opposed to conventional laser communication systems, the Gaussian laser beam is prevented from diverging at the receiving station by using a weak thin lens that places the transmitted beam waist mid-way between a symmetrical transmitter-receiver link design thus saving prime optical power. LC device technology forms an excellent basis to realize such a large aperture weak lens. Using a 1-D array of LC deflectors, a broadband optical add-drop filter (OADF) is proposed for dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) applications. By binary control of the drive signal to the individual LC deflectors in the array, any optical channel can be selectively dropped and added. For demonstration purposes, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) digital micromirrors have been used to implement the OADF. Several key systems issues such as insertion loss, polarization dependent loss, wavelength resolution and response time are analyzed in detail for comparison with the LC deflector approach. A no-moving-parts axial scanning confocal microscope (ASCM) system is designed and demonstrated using a combination of a large diameter LC lens and a classical microscope objective lens. By electrically controlling the 5 mm diameter LC lens, the 633 nm wavelength focal spot is moved continuously over a 48 [micro]m range with measured 3-dB axial resolution of 3.1 [micro]m using a 0.65 numerical aperture (NA) micro-objective lens. The ASCM is successfully used to image an Indium Phosphide twin square optical waveguide sample with a 10.2 [micro]m waveguide pitch and 2.3 [micro]m height and width. Using fine analog electrical control of the LC lens, a super-fine sub-wavelength axial resolution of 270 nm is demonstrated. The proposed ASCM can be useful in various precision three dimensional imaging and profiling applications.

This thesis is the result of a collaboration between Ericsson AB and Luleå University of Technology. A feasibility study has been conducted to investigate antenna options for the HIBS access link. The study contains two parts. Firstly, a link budget investigating the gain required from the antenna. The metric of concern in the link budget was SNR. Secondly, a wide area coverage investigation that explored coverage feasibility over an area with a radius of 100 km. The metrics of concern in this investigation were antenna gain and beamwidth. Two types of antennas have been included: parabolic reflector and phased array. Seven frequency bands have been studied: 0.7, 1.9, 2.7, 3.5, 6, 10, and 26 GHz. The first three bands shared a bandwidth of 20 MHz, the next three shared a bandwidth of 80 MHz, and the last band had a bandwidth of 100 MHz. This bandwidth difference was found to have a meaningful effect on SNR. The feasibility condition for the link budget was -6 dB SNR for uplink and 6 dB SNR for downlink. The link budget concluded that the first three bands (0.7, 1.9, and 2.7 GHz) are feasible with reasonably sized antennas. This meant a parabolic reflector dish diameter of 0.6 m for all three bands, or a phased array antenna with 4, 32, and 64 elements, respectively, that all resulted in a roughly equal physical size of the array. The 3.5 GHz frequency band was found to be feasible with a much larger antenna (512 element array). The bands above 3.5 GHz were not deemed feasible. The wide area investigation limited the antenna to a phased array antenna. Two cell layouts were considered for coverage: a 7 cell layout with one nadir cell surrounded by 6 cells and a 19 cell layout which encapsulates the former with another layer of 12 cells. The feasibility condition was that the half power beamwidth is equal to the angular size of a cell from the HIBS for each cell layer while maintaining gain. Beamwidth was controlled through array tapering and altering element configurations. This investigation concluded that coverage is feasible for two bands. In the 0.7 GHz band, the chosen option was a 7 cell layout using a single element antenna for the nadir cell and 3 by 1 arrays for the outer cells. In the 1.9 GHz band, the chosen option was a 19 cell layout with a single element antenna for the nadir cell, 5 by 1 arrays for the cells in the middle layer, and 8 by 5 arrays for the outer layer. Higher frequency bands required higher gain antennas which in turn did not provide adequate beamwidth for coverage.

Phased array antennas with small size and light weight are proposed to make signal transmitting more efficiently and accurately. These antennas have such advantages that they can realize beam scanning over a large range, accurately track and identify targets within the observation range. In beam scanning, the scan loss which is the difference between the scanned gain and broadside gain has a great impact on the performance of phased array antennas. This thesis aims to study how to reduce the scan loss while the beam is scanned over a wide range. One of the methods to reduce the scan loss is to widen the beam-width of the embedded radiation pattern. With the wide beam-width, the gain reduction due to beam scanning would be small. We propose a method to replace a conventional half-wavelength unit-cell in an array with a sub-array composed of 5 miniaturized elements with special phase/amplitude distribution. The size of the sub-array is finely tuned in this thesis to achieve the goal of wide beam-width without any grating lobe. Then, in order to further expand the beam-width, the ideal power divider is utilized to apply specific weight to the sub-array. The simulation result shows that the maximum scan loss for the considered case is 3.67dB over ±80° scan range with an voltage amplitude distribution of [0.234, 0.64, 0.26, 0.64, 0.234] (1) and a phase of 88° between the 5 sub-array elements, which can be realized by the ideal power divider. If the allowed gain reduction is relaxed to 5dB, the scan coverage can be extended to ±89°. / Fasstyrda antenner med eu liten storlek och låg vikt har förslegits för att göra signalöverföring effektivt och korrekt. Dessa antenner har stora fördelar i att de kan realisera stort område. De kan också följa och identifiera mål inom observationsområdet. Vid strålskanning är skanningsförlusten, som är skillnaden mellan den skannade förstärkningen och förstärkningen vid den breda sidan, följande har stor inverkan på prestandan hos fasstyrda antenner. Denna avhandling syftar till att studera hur man minskar skanningsförlusten när strålen skannar inom ett brett skanningsområde. En av metoderna för att minska skanningsförlusten är att bredda strålbredden i det inbyggda strålningsmönstret. Med en bred strålbredd blir förstärkningsminskningen på grund av strålskanning liten. Vi föreslår en metod för att ersätta en konventionell halvvågig enhetscell i en matris med en delmatris som består av 5 miniatyriserade element med speciell fas/amplitudfördelning. Storleken på delarrayen är finjusterad i denna avhandling för att uppnå målet med bred strålbredd utan någon gitterlob. För att ytterligare utöka strålbredden används sedan den ideala effektdelaren för att ge subarrayet en särskild vikt. Simuleringsresultatet visar att den maximala skanningsförlusten för det undersökta fallet är 3,67dB inom ±80° täckningsvinkel med amplitudfördelning av [0.234, 0.64, 0.26, 0.64, 0.234] (2) och fas av 88°, som kan realiseras av den idealiska effektdelaren. Om kravet på minskningen av förstårluing sänks till 5dB, kan täckningen breddas till ±89°.

A circular polarised phased array antenna and a frequency selective hybrid radome are designed and evaluated. The antenna system is well suited as a part of a communication link between platforms with a 600 MHz bandwidth and a centre frequency of 5 GHz. A prototype consisting of 8 x 8 patch elements has been designed, manufactured and characterised. The final configuration will be a compact, relatively inexpensive system with single-fed antenna elements. An array antenna with circular polarisation is suitable when the receiver must maintain a strong signal regardless of the relative antenna orientation. The radome protects the antenna and can also reduce both the radar cross section and interference from out-of-band signals. The main focus is to make sure that the phased array antenna and the radome work as one unit and maximise the field of view in which the polarisation is circular. The method to maximise the field of view is to reduce the coupling between antenna elements by using shorting via fences surrounding each element. Following this method results in a total array gain of 18 dBi, 25° half-power beamwidth and a ±35° maximum scan angle with maintained circular polarisation. Prototype measurements agree well with the simulated results. / En cirkulärpolariserad fasstyrd gruppantenn samt en frekvensselektiv hybrid-radom har designats och utvärderats. Antennsystemet lämpar sig väl som en kommunikationslänk mellan plattformar med en 600 MHz bandbredd och centerfrekvens 5 GHz. En prototyp besåtende av 8 × 8 patchelement har designats, tillverkats och karaktäriserats. Den slutgiltiga konfigurationen resulterade i ett kompakt och relativt billigt system med single-matade antennelement. En gruppantenn med cirkulär polarisation är lämplig när mottagaren måste bibehålla en stark signal oavsett antennens relativa orientering. Radomen skyddar antennen från väder och vind och kan även minska både radarmålsarean och störningar från utombandiga signaler. Huvudfokus är att se till att den fasstyrda gruppantennen och radomen fungerar som en enhet och maximerar scan-området i vilket polarisationen är cirkulär. Metoden för att maximera detta område är att minska kopplingen mellan antennelementen genom att använda ett kortslutande viastaket som omsluter varje element. Metoden resulterar i totalt 18 dBi array gain, 25° half-power beamwidth och en maximal utstyrningsvinkel på ±35° med bibehållen cirkulär polarisation. Prototypens mätresultat stämmer väl överens med simulationsresultaten.

The fifth-generation (5G) wireless network has received a lot of attention from both academia and industry with many reported efforts. Multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) is the most promising wireless access technology for next-generation networks to provide high spectral and energy efficiency. For handheld devices such as smartphones, 2×2 MIMO antennas are currently employed in 4G systems and it is expected to employ a larger number of elements for 5G mobile terminals. Placing multiple antennas in the limited space of a smartphone PCB poses a significant challenge. Therefore, a new design technique using dual-polarized antenna resonators for 8×8 MIMO configuration is proposed for sub 6 GHz 5G applications. The proposed MIMO configuration could improve the channel capacity, diversity function, and multiplexing gain of the smartphone antenna system which makes it suitable for 5G applications. Different types of new and compact diversity MIMO antennas with Patch, Slot, and Planar inverted F antenna (PIFA) resonators are studied for different candidate bands of sub 6 GHz spectrum such as 2.6, 3.6, and 5.8 GHz. Unlike the reported MIMO antennas, the proposed designs provide full radiation coverage and polarization diversity with sufficient gain and efficiency values supporting different sides of the mainboard. Apart from the sub 6 GHz frequencies, 5G devices are also expected to support the higher bands at the centimeter/millimeter-wave spectrums. Compact antennas can be employed at different portions of a smartphone board to form linear phased arrays. Here, we propose new linear phased arrays with compact elements such as Dipole and Quasi Yagi resonators for 5G smartphones. Compared with the recently reported designs, the proposed phased arrays exhibit satisfactory features such as compact size, wide beam steering, broad bandwidth, end-fire radiation, high gain, and efficiency characteristics. The proposed 5G antennas can provide single-band, multi-band, and broad-band characteristics with reduced mutual coupling function. The fundamental characteristics of the 5G antennas are examined using both simulations and measurements and good agreement is observed. Furthermore, due to compact size and better placement of elements, quite good characteristics are observed in the presence of the user and the smartphone components. These advantages make the proposed antennas highly suitable for use in 5G smartphone applications. / European Union Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement H2020-MSCA-ITN-2016 SECRET-722424

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The fifth generation (5G) has developed a lot of interest, and there have been many reported initiatives in both industry and academics. Multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) is the most promising wireless access technique for next-generation networks in terms of spectral and energy efficiency (MIMO). In 4G systems, 2-Element MIMO antennas are already used, while 5G mobile terminals for smartphone hand-held devices are projected to use a bigger number of elements. The placement of many antennas in the restricted space of a smartphone PCB is one of the most critical challenges. As a result, for sub-6 GHz 5G applications, a new design technique based on dual-polarised antenna resonators for 6-Element, 8-Element MIMO configuration is proposed. The proposed MIMO design could improve the smartphone antenna system's chan-nel capacity, diversity function, and multiplexing gain, making it appropriate for 5G applica-tions. For distinct prospective bands of the sub-6 GHz spectrum, such as 2.6, 3.6, and 5.8 GHz, different types of novel and compact diversity MIMO antennas using Patch, Slot, and Planar inverted F antenna (PIFA) resonators are examined. Unlike previously reported MIMO antennas, the proposed designs provide full radiation coverage and polarisation diversity, as well as adequate gain and efficiency values to support several mainboard sides. Apart from sub-6 GHz frequencies, 5G devices are projected to support the centimetre/milli-metre wave spectrum's higher bands. To create linear phased arrays, small antennas can be placed at various locations on a smartphone board. For 5G smartphones, we propose novel linear phased arrays with tiny parts like Dipole and Quasi-Yagi resonators. In comparison to previously published designs, the suggested phased arrays have desirable qualities such as compact size, wide beam-steering, broad bandwidth, end-fire radiation, high gain, and efficiency. With a reduced mutual coupling function, the suggested 5G antennas can provide single-band, multi-band, and broad-band characteristics. Both models and measurements are used to an-alyse the fundamental features of 5G antennas, and good agreement is found. Furthermore, in the presence of the user and the smartphone components, good features are seen due to the small size and superior arrangement of elements. Because of these benefits, the sug-gested antennas are well-suited for usage in 5G smartphone applications.

<p><br></p><p dir="ltr">Over the past decade, optical frequency combs have spurred significant advancements in both classical ultrafast optics and quantum optics. My research contributes to these two fields, catering to applications in precision metrology and optical networking. In the domain of quantum optics, the study delves into biphoton frequency combs with time-energy entanglement, employing novel electro-optic modulation schemes to enhance sensitivity and enable precise measurements of temporal correlations. Additionally, Bell states, a crucial class of entangled quantum bases, are generated in the frequency domain, showcasing their utility in delay metrology and quantum cryptographic protocols. </p><p dir="ltr">In the realm of classical optical frequency combs, this work explores dynamic steering of pulsed optical beams, holding promise for applications in imaging and remote sensing. The concept of time-efficient dynamic beam steering using a spatial array of optical frequency combs is elucidated and experimentally demonstrated through the utilization of a high-resolution spectral disperser, specifically a virtually imaged phased array (VIPA). Furthermore, integrated photonic designs featuring wavelength-selective switches and spectral dispersers are proposed to enable a versatile on-chip implementation of the beam steering approach. In sum, this research leverages the capabilities of classical and quantum optical frequency combs, with implications for emerging applications such as distributed sensing, quantum networking, and light detection and ranging (LIDAR).</p>