Direct SAMpling Digital ReceivER (DISARMER)
Abstract
The Direct SAMpling Digital ReceivER (DISARMER) program aimed to design, fabricate and test a digital wideband receiver which captures and digitizes electromagnetic (EM) spectrum signals with potential applications for electronic warfare and signals intelligence. The hybridized receiver would integrate photonic (light-manipulating) and electronic components in a standard form factor. Conventional digital wideband receivers are limited in their dynamic range, which determines their resilience to jammers and drives their ability to detect and record faint signals. DISARMER sought to overcome this limitation by employing an ultra-stable optical clock, which would allow systems to sample the spectrum with greater precision. The DISARMER receiver would improve spur-free dynamic range 100x over the state of the art and prove capable of coherently sampling the entire, tactically-relevant, X-band (8-12 GHz) portion of the spectrum. Such a wide-bandwidth, high-fidelity receiver would also have the potential to drastically reduce the cost, size and weight of electronic warfare and signals intelligence systems.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2018
- Source ID
- 2bc85259750655a15d3d28b0bb8a885b