Radio Frequency Photonic 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. 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. RPT program integrates optical components such as modulators, photodetectors, lasers, delay elements, and low-noise oscillators with microwave electronics to demonstrate microsystems such as remote links, channelizers, and analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). Components developed under the RPT program in PE 0602716E, Project ELT-01 will be integrated into subsystem demonstration under this program. This program also incorporates photonic components previously addressed in the Photonic-enabled Simultaneous Transmit and Receive (P-STAR) program, Electromagnetic Pulse Tolerant Microwave Receiver Front End (EMPIRE), Integrated Photonic Displays (iPHoD) in ELT-01, Remoted Analog-to-Digital Converter with De-serialization and Reconstruction (RADER) in ELT-01, and the Transmit and Receive Optimized Photonics (TROPHY) program. This technology will transition via industry.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2012
- Source ID
- f81c02e47b132ea3964ea3a6b5a6800e