Acquisition of Coherent Transceivers W911NF-17-S-0002 - Topic 3D Research Instrumentation
Abstract
Coherent optical communication has enjoyed enormous growth in the last 10 years. Digital coherent optical transport is now the default technology for commercial fiber optical networks. Coherent detection enables the complete characterization of the optical field of light. This capability is not only useful for fiber-optic communication but also for many other applications such as free-space optical communication, imaging and sensing. We request funding to purchase three coherent optical transceivers to support two ARO-founded research projects: 1) Turbulence-resistant free-space optical communication, and 2) Beamforming techniques for focusing light through turbulent atmosphere. Because of the degeneracies that exist in high-order spatial modes, the simplest system to characterize non-ideal free-space systems (e.g. with turbulence or aberrations) would require two mode groups, which contain the fundamental mode and the two first-order degenerate modes. The three coherent transceivers requested here will enable us to perform experiments on multimode coherent optical time-domain reflectometry (COTDR) for the two projects currently funded by ARO. In addition, these transceivers can be used for many other research activities within the PIÕs group and also other research groups within CREOL. One such example is random channel cryptography in which multimode fibers are used to generate and distribute encryption keys. It can be shown that if intensity detection is used in random channel cryptography, then the scheme is only information-theoretically secure against the beam-splitter attack. However, if coherent detection is used instead, then the scheme is information-theoretically secure against all black box attacks, local or nonlocal. It should also be noted that such a capability, although a rarity in academia in the United States, is common place in Europe, Asia and Australia. We will use these capabilities to collaborate with other universities in the US as well. ?
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 29, 2019
- Source ID
- W911NF1810365
Entities
People
- Guifang Li
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of Central Florida