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Objective: Develop an Integrated Photonic Design platform for enhancing the performance of analog and mixed signal processing modules for military applications.
DESCRIPTION: Efficient electrical-to-optical (E/O) conversion, optical-to-electrical (O/E) conversion, and low loss optical interconnects are imperative for photonic solutions to be competitive with conventional military RF components. E/O and O/E conversion losses coupled with high insertion loss integrated optics have traditionally impaired short-haul RF link performance. Recent progress in optical signal generation, modulation, routing and distribution along with detector technologies are beginning to remove this impairment and create new integrated photonics insertion opportunities for military applications, including but not limited to; ultra wide band receiver for Electronic Warfare (EW), True Time Delay (TDD), photonic switched/controlled solid state antenna, coherent THz Source, Antenna Beam Forming (ABF) and Beam Steering (ABS). The realization and deployment of such applications will highly rely on the ability to overcome the challenge of monolithic integration of analog and mixed RF signal processing modules on a single die. Current state of the art design and development SDKs and fabrication foundries, efficiently address digital integrated photonic designs; however to date, very limited efforts have been aimed towards development of SDK design tools for analog integrated photonic applications. Hence, there is an urgent need for a detailed investigation among available fabrication foundries and material platforms for their suitability in the development of analog integrated photonics for military applications. Integrated photonics has the potential to meet military needs for decades to come by enhancing the performance of broadband analog and digital signal processing modules like modulators, photodetectors, switches and wavelength division multiplexing and demultiplexing. With recent military/industrial breakthroughs in the integration of photonics in RF systems, the operational bandwidth of military RF systems has increased by orders of magnitude (tens of GHz instead of GHz). In addition, it enabled a significant decrease of the size and a reduction in the power dissipation of military RF systems (i.e., EW, RADAR systems) - far beyond the possibilities of the current electronic RF systems. RF signal pre-processing, filtering and channelization are additional technology areas where photonics can bring value to military RF systems. The performance of the optical link is critical for successful utilization of photonics for military RF systems.
This effort seeks to address the development of an integrated photonic link and further cost and performance improvements as necessary for widespread deployment in military applications. Achieving low noise figure at frequencies to 100 GHz and beyond is highly favorable, along with efficient broadband modulation, compact, high power, low noise laser is also an important area of further integrated photonic device development. Improved link dynamic range is equally important. Broadband photonic link linearizers are needed to push the Spur-Free Dynamic Rang (SFDR) over the 130 dB-Hz2/3 levels.
PHASE I: Develop broadband analog and/or mixed signal optical links. Examine electrical-to-optical (E/O) conversion efficiency, optical-to-electrical (O/E) conversion, efficiency, and low loss optical interconnects to evaluate proposed link designs. Preliminary fabrication processes will be identified for the fabrication of prototypes during Phase II effort.
PHASE II: Develop a standardized design and fabrication platform for the fabrication of integrated analog photonic solutions for military applications. Fabricate and characterize prototypes to validate proposed designs performance. Develop packaging solutions compatible with military platforms including both optical and RF signal I/O signal interface.
PHASE III: Analog/digital integrated photonic solutions for Air Force systems: high-speed photonic enabled A/D, optical signal routing and distribution modules. RF-Photonic links incorporating optical analog processing modules, electrical and RF interconnects.
POC: Gernot S. Pomrenke, gernot.pomrenke@us.af.mil
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https://www.dodsbir.net/sitis/display_topic.asp?Bookmark=46320
http://www.dodsbir.net/solicitation/
http://www.dodsbir.net/solicitation/sbir151/default.htm
http://www.dodsbir.net/solicitation/sbir151/af151.htm
