2-D Beam Deflection Model of Liquid Crystal Phased Array

ATP (Acquisition, pointing and tracking) technology is one of the key technologies and an important guarantee for establishing reliable links in the field of space laser communication. Liquid crystal phased array (LCOPA) is generally used as the core phase shifter for laser beam precise deflection. The classical precise deflection control method can only realize sparse and uneven concentric circle distribution in the deflection range, and the diffraction efficiency decreases seriously with the increase of deflection angles. Therefore, we propose a liquid crystal beam control method based on planar phased array radar model. The beam direction is controlled by changing phase difference between the electrodes. This method can realize two dimensional continuous beam deflection and uniform distribution. The deflection precision are analyzed and the theoretical simulation and experimental analysis are carried out. The results show that the precision is less than 14 mu rad of x direction and 12 mu rad of y direction within the range of 2.1 mrad beam deflection. Finally, the effect of rotation angle on two-dimensional deflection precision is analyzed.