Beam Steering and Signal Amplification Through Feedforward Networks. Part I: Transmission

Abstract

Conventional and modern methods for beam steering in antennas and radar systems have one goal in common: to manipulate the phase shift between oscillating components, so that the direction of a radiating intensity pattern can be controlled. Typical components include arrays of nonlinear oscillators connected in a chain configuration. Modern methods for beam steering take advantage of the inherent nonlinearities of the individual components and of the collective dynamics of the array of oscillators to successfully manipulate phase shift. None of those methods include, however, signal amplification. In this manuscript, we introduce a novel array configuration: a feedforward network, which allows, simultaneously, for beam steering and signal amplification capabilities. We show that the amplitudes of certain bifurcating solutions in a feedforward network of nonlinear oscillators exhibit growth rates that are significantly larger than in other type of networks that operate near the onset of a Hopf bifurcation. Those branches of oscillations have the potential to lead to significant signal amplification of a radiating beam.