Microwave receiver front-end assembly and array

A method of sensing incident electro-magnetic radiation, said method comprising:

• a. providing at least one sensor head in which the incident radiation passes through or is reflected from said at least one sensor head;
• b. passively sensing the incident radiation with an electro-optic material disposed in a RF waveguide propagating the incident radiation, and producing, according to an electric field component of said propagating radiation, modulation of light,
• c. providing a remote enclosure for housing electronic and optical elements associated with said at least one sensor head, the electronic and optical elements including at least one laser for supplying light to said sensor head and at least one photodetector for converting modulated light from said sensor head to an electrical signal,
• d. providing at least one optical fiber for communicating signals between (i) said electronic and optical elements in said remote enclosure and (ii) said at least one sensor head, wherein said signals communicating between (i) said electronic and optical elements and (ii) said at least one sensor head over said at least one optical fiber constitute the only signals communicating between (i) said electronic and optical elements in said remote enclosure and (ii) said at least one sensor head.

A method of modulating an optical carrier by an incident electromagnetic field comprising the steps of:

• a. coupling the incident electromagnetic field into at least one transverse electromagnetic waveguide,
• b. propagating the electromagnetic field through said at least one transverse electromagnetic waveguide, each of said at least one transverse electromagnetic waveguide having two opposing metal surfaces,
• c. disposing at least one modulator on or in at least one slice of an electro-optic material in each of said at least one transverse electromagnetic waveguide, said at least one modulator being disposed in the transverse electromagnetic waveguide and having at least one optical waveguide therein with at least a major portion of said at least one optical waveguide guiding light in a direction orthogonal with respect to a direction in which the transverse electromagnetic waveguide guides the incident electromagnetic field propagating in said transverse electromagnetic waveguide;
• and
• d. applying light to said at least one optical waveguide in the at least one modulator, a portion of said two opposing metal surfaces of said at least one transverse electromagnetic waveguide in which said at least one modulator is disposed serving as driving electrodes for said at least one modulator.