Microwave photonic radar with a fiber-distributed antenna array for three-dimensional imaging

A microwave photonic (MWP) radar with a fiber-distributed antenna array for three-dimensional (3D) imaging is proposed and demonstrated for the first time. Photonic frequency doubling, wavelength-division multiplexing and radio-over-fiber techniques are employed for radar signal generation, replication, and distribution. Based on the delay-dependent beat frequency division, parallel de-chirp processing is completed in the center office (CO), leading to multi-channel 2D ISAR imaging and further 3D reconstruction. The influence of the fiber transmission delay is discussed and the phase noise caused thereby is compensated in 3D imaging algorithm, improving the coherence between channels. An experiment of a Ku-band MWP radar with a transmitter (Tx) and 16 equivalent receivers (Rxs) is conducted and 3D imaging of three trihedral corner reflectors is achieved with a range resolution of 7.3 cm, a cross-rage resolution of 5.6 cm and an elevation resolution of 0.85°. The results verify the capability of MWP radar in high-resolution 3D imaging.