Radio-over-fibre distribution using an optical D-fibre antenna (original) (raw)

Finite element analysis has been used to characterise an all-ÿbre antenna using circular core D-ÿbre. The optical D-ÿbre carrying a transversely poled piezoelectric polyvinylidene uoride polymer coating was modelled by using three-dimensional stress analysis. The response of the D-ÿbre antenna was determined over a wide frequency range from 1 to 800 MHz. The modelling predicts that the electric-ÿeld-induced strains will cause a phase shift of 2:43×10 −5 rad=(V=m) per metre at 5 MHz. At frequencies higher than 8 MHz, the optical response is dominated by radial resonances of the D-ÿbre=coating composite. Using the simulation results, an electric-ÿeld-induced phase shift of 7:35×10 −5 rad=(V=m) per metre has been obtained. An increase in phase modulation sensitivity by a factor of three compared to conventional circular ÿbre has been achieved by utilising the unique properties of the D-ÿbre structure. The D-ÿbre antenna has potential applications in areas such as EMC testing and radio-over-ÿbre networks where it provides a convenient means of optically generating radio signals.