Distribute, Synchronize and Coordinate: Massively Scalable and Programmable mm-Wave and THz Arrays and Systems for Future Sensing and Communication
Abstract
This proposal seeks support for a 100 GHz -1 THz coherent signal-generation and detection system for enabling massively scalable and synchronous mm-Wave and THz systems for coordinated operation and beamforming. The ultimate goal is to enable universally programmable and THz chip-scale solutions, scalable to large arrays, that can enable a broad range of applications of interest to DOD such as the nextgeneration 100 Gb/s secure communication systems, high-resolution radar imaging, security screening, contraband detection, explosive detections among others (ONR Code 301, Command, Control, Computers and Communication (C4)). The goal is to push complexity in THz research moving away from the focus of a single-device to versatile and programmable systems that are capable of rapid reconfigurability in spectrum and electromagnetic field synthesis enabling applications such as hyper spectral imaging, sensing and coordinated beamforming. Co-ordinated beamforming across arrays at mm-Wave frequencies require picosecond levels of synchronization and this instrumentation will aid our efforts in generation of these broadband, low jitter, picosecond time references. The intersection ofelectromagnetics, high-frequency systems, signal processing and digital architecture creates opportunities for novel multifunctional, multi-frequency active electromagnetic surfaces whose EM fields are synthesized directly on chip and thereby, can be programmed on the fly. This crosscut approach is expected to enable a new direction for programmable broadband sensing, communication and imaging systems which are compact, low-cost, scalable, programmable and efficient. THz signal sources and detectors: The 100 GHz-1 THz system listed in the proposal will enable accurate characterization of the chip-scale radiating THz systems for beamforming and synchronization. This will allow field measurement (both near and far-field), as well as create set us to realize extremely broadband and highly directional (and secure) wireless links with large scale phased arrays at these frequencies. This is key to the PI~s currently-ongoing ONR YIP project, entitled ~Bit-to-THz: Universally Programmable THzSurfaces with Sub-wavelength Field and Response Synthesis~ This project is looking into propose fundamental methods that can enable a programmable THz surface in a chip-scale technology for synthesis and sensing of THz signals, and whose spatial and spectral field configuration and response can be dynamically reconfigured on the fly (sub-10ps time scales). Such systems will be scalable, efficient, lowcost enabling broadband architectures and EM interfaces supporting orders of magnitude higher data rates and extremely fast tracking and high resolution radars. This will also be key to the PI~s AFOSRsponsoredMURI project ~4-D Electromagnetic Origami~ which attempts to build universallyprogrammable RF-mmWave sensing surfaces with electromagnetic and surface actuations.Quantum Information Processing and Spectroscopy In addition, this instrumentation will also add to the capability of high-frequency measurement facilities in Princeton Electrical Engineering department to enable new modalities in quantum information processing with studying electron spin resonances and superconducting circuits by allowing them to probe such properties at higher frequencies and higher magnetic fields. Training: Overall, the 100-1000 GHz system will allow training of graduate and undergraduate students in the state-of-the-art research in RF-THz integrated electronics, electromagnetics and quantum science and encourage a generation of young students to take up challenging problems beneficial to the DOD and society in general.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 20, 2019
- Source ID
- N000141912525
Entities
People
- Kaushik Sengupta
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- Trustees of Princeton University
- United States Navy