Electro-Optically Guided Radar Imaging

Herein, PSI proposes to leverage extensive development in the area of optically sampled passive millimeter-wave imaging to develop dual mode active/passive imagers that provide both the intuitive, real-time imagery of a passive imager and the ranging capabilities of an active sensor. To accomplish this task, an optically sampled millimeter-wave receive array is sampled via optical pulsed laser gating of the detection array. These signals are then reconstructed using an all optical image processor that is capable of generating real-time image samples. The optically gated sampling of this array is driven in conjunction with an optically generated millimeter-wave source that can be gated and phase with unprecedented levels of flexibility. Under the Phase I effort, key risk areas in the realization of such active/passive imaging arrays have been mitigated and the Phase II efforts proposed herein will culminate in the fabrication of a prototype sensor to be delivered as part of this effort. Developments made under this effort will directly supplement a passive imaging technology that is currently on track for transition to a prime US defense contractor and, as such, has a direct and immediate transition path to US DoD applications.