High Dynamic-range Wideband Digital-RF Receiver

The ability to capture wide instantaneous bandwidth with high fidelity is essential for analysis of various signals-of-interest. Superconductor analog-to-digital converters (ADC) offer discriminating advantages in both bandwidth and fidelity due to very high sampling rates (up to 100 GHz demonstrated) and quantum-accurate digitization based on counting of magnetic flux quanta. Multiple digital-RF receiver systems incorporating superconductor ADCs have been in operation for over two years in field-ready configurations at Government laboratories, and have demonstrated direct digitization of RF signals up to 21GHz. In response to the need to produce leap-ahead performance in signal capture and storage, we propose to develop and deliver the next generation superconductor ADCs. In particular, during Phase I, we will investigate three competing ADC designs, all with the potential to deliver the performance objective, and select the best for implementation in Phase II. We will build upon the demonstrated expertise in high-throughput digital datalinks and data recorders to extend the capability to synchronous acquisition and storage of multi-bit samples. Each ADC approach has a compelling strength in one of the three key ADC parameters: bandwidth, dynamic range and sensitivity; complete receiver architectures, including supporting analog and digital technologies will be analyzed to determine the best solution.