Flexible UHF Chaotic Devices for Radar Applications

We propose to develop ultra-high-frequency optical and electronic chaotic devices that offer great flexibility. In Phase I, we will design one optical and one electronic chaotic device whose central frequency can be adjusted in the range from 1- 50 GHz and the dimensionality can be adjusted from low (~3) to high (>50) values. We will develop mathematical models that incorporate the detailed characteristics of the device components that are crucial in understanding the high-frequency characteristics of the devices, delineate the nature of the chaotic behavior and how it depends on the device's characteristics, and specify manufacturing parameters. A unique aspect of the proposed devices is that the time scale and "complexity" of the chaotic waveforms can be adjusted over a wide range so their performance can be matched to a variety of applications. Recent progress at Duke University demonstrates the feasibility of controlling chaos in high-bandwidth systems even when the latency is comparable to the characteristic time scales of the chaotic device. Adjustments to our controller allows for controlling different UPOs embedded in the chaotic system, which could be used for symbolic-dynamic-based communication schemes. Such communication schemes possess inherent advantages for efficient use of bandwidth, and feasibility of robust encryption.