Photonic-to-RF Instrumentation Systems for Manufacturing And Testing of Integrated Components (PRISMATIC)
Abstract
For gathering strategic electronic reconnaissance information, from the President of the UnitedStates all the way down to theatre Commanders, the Combat Sent (RC-135U) is the Air Forceplatform called into action. And, to address the ever-increasing spectral range within thecommunications environment, the Combat Sent has been issued a new mission requirement:extend its electronic sensing capability into the millimeter range by 2020. Relaying such high-frequency signals from the wing-tips back to the plane requires advanced photonic devices that are currently being developed by the PI under AFOSR and AFRL support. Accordingly, this DURIP proposal requests instrumentation to augment those efforts with manufacturing and testing capability to ensure success in meeting the new mission requirements for the Combat Sent.The effort being augmented is to design, demonstrate, and deploy an RF-Photonic Link to relaymillimeter wave (mmW) signals from the wing-tips of the Combat Sent. The key aspect here isthat the RF Link must meet MILSPEC requirements and therefore must be integrated into aruggedized, economical system. Moreover, given that the system is used to support communication equipment that includes HF, VHF, UHF, microwave and mmW systems, it must have extremely high signal fidelity in terms of Noise Figure, Dynamic Range, and Gain.To meet these requirements, they are requesting support for the acquisition of a wafer bondingsystem that will allow them to integrate thinned Lithium Niobate (LNB) wafers with Silicon (Si) to obtain a heterogeneous material system that will meet MILSPEC requirements. In addition, they are also requesting support to perform MILSPEC grade signal integrity analysis, which is imperative for the ultimate integration of the designed link onto the Combat Sent platform. Together, these instruments will allow them to complete the design, demonstration and deployment of this technology for the Air Force.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 09, 2018
- Source ID
- FA95501710442
Entities
People
- Dennis W. Prather
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of Delaware