Optical Heterodyne Based Hybrid Lidar-Radar Signal Receiver Navy SBIR FY2008.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2008.1 Topic No.: N08-032 Topic Title: Optical Heterodyne Based Hybrid Lidar-Radar Signal Receiver Proposal No.: N081-032-0363 Firm: Physical Optics Corporation Applied Technologies Division 20600 Gramercy Place, Bldg.100 Torrance, California 90501-1821 Contact: Wei Peng Phone: (310) 320-3088 Web Site: www.poc.com Abstract: To address the U.S. Navy's need for a hybrid lidar-radar receiver, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Optical Heterodyne Hybrid Lidar-Radar Signal Receiver (OPHESIR) system. This proposed OPHESIR is based on a high-sensitivity optical heterodyne technology and normal-incidence, high-bandwidth and large area photodetector. It can recover 0.5-1 GHz modulated 5-30 ns laser pulses with high dynamic range over 70 dB and small loss under 10 dB. The innovative combination of intermediate frequency locking based optical local oscillator in the optical heterodyning module, and a Si-based normal-incidence detector with active area >8 mm will enable the OPHESIR to overcome the limited sensitivity, dynamic range, bandwidth, and active detection area of current lidar-radar signal receiving methods. Compact and highly efficient, the OPHESIR can be deployed on UAVs or aircrafts as a hybrid lidar-radar receiver to recover and process the radar subcarrier from a modulated pulsed optical signal. In Phase I POC will demonstrate the feasibility of OPHESIR to meet the Navy's specifications by assembling and bench-top testing a technology readiness level (TRL) 4 OPHESIR system prototype. In Phase II, POC plans to demonstrate a fully functioning TRL 5-6 OPHESIR prototype. Benefits: Development of the OPHESIR will result in a gated short-pulse demodulating signal receiver for hybrid lidar-radar signal recognition that capable of operating in the blue-green water transmission window. While the proposed OPHESIR has obvious military uses include Navy, Air Force and homeland security, the commercial applications are also significant. Such a lidar-radar signal demodulator could be used for biomedical optical imaging, various lidar systems to determining weather, airflow or ocean flow conditions. It can also be used for free-space telecommunications, a large market in which POC already has a stake. Surveillance applications of the OPHESIR extend to border patrol and customs usage, especially detecting underwater smuggling. The proposed OPHESIR technology can address this large potential World Telecom Market need of over $160M, growing at 11.5% annually. Return