Radio Frequency Photonics Technology (RPT)

Abstract

The Radio Frequency Photonics Technology (RPT) program is developing components and microsystems to revolutionize deployed signal intelligence (SIGINT) gathering capabilities. The radio frequency (RF) spectrum contains innumerable friendly and adversarial signals of interest including: voice and data communications, electronic signatures, and navigation information. Conventional electronic systems are challenged in detecting weak signals in the presence of strong ones (low-linearity) across a broad range of frequencies (narrow-band). The RPT program aims to efficiently capture all RF signals of interest by developing broad-band (>10 gigahertz) high-linearity (>70 decibels dynamic-range) optical components and microsystems. RPT enables linear broadband microsystems such as remote links, channelizers, and analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). The RPT program will reduce susceptibility to electronic attack, increase the probability-of-intercepting (POI) adversaries on their first-pulse transmission, and increase information awareness 1000-fold. The Applied Research portion of this program will develop linear broadband optical components such as modulators, photodetectors, lasers, delay elements, and low-noise oscillators in support of linear broadband microsystems. These components will be integrated into subsystem demonstrations in the related RPT, PE 0603739E, Project MT-15. This program includes technologies previously addressed in the Remoted Analog-to-Digital Converter with De-serialization and Reconstruction (RADER) and Integrated Photonic Delays (iPhoD) programs.

Document Details

Document Type
Accomplishment
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2012
Source ID
03239c6a8c53aaaa91092fc672d8a47c

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Integrated Circuit Design and Technology.
  • Quantum Chemistry
  • Radio communications and signal processing.

Technology Areas

  • Directed Energy
  • Microelectronics

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