Optical Delay Line Correlator

An important application of opto-electronic devices in microwave signal processing is optical delay lines. Opto-electronic devices with wide bandwidth, high dynamic range and small size play a crucial role in the improvement of the performance of signal processing systems. Princeton Electronic Systems in collaboration with University of Michigan proposes to develop high dynamic range opto-electronic components for the fabrication of a fiberoptic based delay line correlator for radar applications. In the proposed program, we will design and fabricate electo-optic switches, optical transmitters and receivers for high efficiency and broadband operation. The compensation for losses takes place in the optical domain which is extremely flat at microwave frequencies. The preliminary design indicates that a very versatile, high speed, wide bandwidth electro-optic switching network can be realized. In phase I we will demonstrate a basic prototype of the fiberoptic based optical delay line correlator. At the end of the program (phase II), we will demonstrate a 2 millisecond optical delay correlator with 20 GHz modulation bandwidth and large spurious free dynamic range (>110 dBm-Hz2/3). The goal of this program is to develop a versatile long delay, high dynamic range optical delay line technology with the objectives of achieving 2 millisecond and longer delays to operate over a broad bandwidth covering 20 GHz and beyond.