Wideband RF Photonic Link with Real-Time Digital Post Processing

Pharad is teaming with the Applied Physics Laboratory of The Johns Hopkins University to propose and investigate the feasibility of wideband (VHF to SHF) RF-to-digital photonic link architectures with real-time digital signal processing (DSP) that can meet the stringent performance metrics of military systems. The key requirements for our wideband DSP linearized RF-to-digital photonic link include a fiber distance of 300 meters, a minimum spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) of 120 dB-Hz2/3, and a 2 GHz instantaneous bandwidth. Our Phase I study will explore the trade-offs of several RF-to-bits photonic link architectures and compare the achievable link performance as well as the hardware implementation complexities, with a specific focus on the potential to minimize the size, weight and power (SWaP) required by the electronic back-end digital signal processing (DSP) subsystem. We will carry out theoretical analyses as well as benchtop proof-of-concept demonstrations that will provide experimental validation of the proposed wideband, high dynamic photonic RF-to-bits link architectures incorporating real-time processing. Based on the outcome of our Phase I trade studies we will create a design solution for an RF-to-bits photonic link with an electronic backend processor that provides the optimal combination of linearity performance, hardware complexity, and opportunity for low SWaP.