Integrated Low-Jitter Mode-Locked Source for Optical Signal Processing Applications

Navy SBIR 21.2 - Topic N212-118
NAVAIR - Naval Air Systems Command
Opens: May 19, 2021 - Closes: June 17, 2021 (12:00pm edt)

N212-118 TITLE: Integrated Low-Jitter Mode-Locked Source for Optical Signal Processing Applications

RT&L FOCUS AREA(S): Microelectronics

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Air Platforms;Electronics

OBJECTIVE: Develop a compact, low-timing jitter, semiconductor mode-locked for optical signal processing applications.

DESCRIPTION: Emerging optical signal processing methods utilize the broadband nature of the optical spectrum to perform radio frequency (RF) signal processing in the optical domain. Examples of this include time-stretch analog analog-to to-digital converters [Ref 1], photonic sampling [Ref 2] and the use of optical speckle to perform compressive RF sensing [Ref 3]. Both applications require pulsed optical sources with a wide wide-optical envelope and low low-timing jitter. To date, fiber-based mode-locked lasers [Ref 4] have been used for this application and have met the performance requirements for these applications such as ultra wideband electronic warfare receivers. To allow a reduction of size and power of these emerging optical signal processing techniques, there is a need to develop compact (on the order of 100 cubic centimeters (cc), efficient semiconductor sources that can be chip-scale integrated in compact implementations, and can meet the requirements for implementation on size-and-power constrained Navy platforms. The developed source must be compatible with further integration of additional functionality such as analog optical modulators and low-loss optical waveguides. The mode-locked optical source should operate in the 1.5-micron band with average output power exceeding 10 milliwatts (mW). The pulse repetition rate should be in the 10-100 megahertz (MHz) range, with pulse timing jitter less than 100 femtoseconds (fs), and an optical envelope exceeding 10 nanometers (nm).

PHASE I: Develop, design, and demonstrate the feasibility of an approach for a mode-locked or pulsed optical source that operates in the 1.5 micron � band with average output power exceeding 10 milliwatts (mW), 10-100 MHz pulse repetition rate, pulse timing jitter less than 100 fs, and an optical envelope exceeding 10 nanometers (nm). Develop a model for an optical signal processing system of interest for the Navy. Develop further application--specific requirements specifications for the mode-locked source. Through simulations or practical supporting measurement show that the proposed optical source will meet these requirements. The Phase I effort will include prototype plans to be developed under Phase II.

PHASE II: Fabricate and demonstrate a laser source that meets requirements defined in Phase I. Develop a prototype packaged laser demonstrator. Ensure, that at the end of Phase II, this packaged laser should be at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 [Ref 5], with performance measured in a laboratory environment.

PHASE III DUAL USE APPLICATIONS: Complete development, perform final testing, and integrate and transition the final solution to future naval airborne electronic warfare and wideband radar systems.

As pointed out in the Description, this technology can be applied to time-stretch analog-to-digital converters, photonic sampling and the use of optical speckle to perform compressive RF sensing.

REFERENCES:

  1. Valley, G. C. "Photonic analog-to-digital converters." Optics Express, 15(5), 2007, pp. 1955-1982. https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.15.001955.
  2. Misra, A., Kress, C., Singh, K., Preußler, S., Scheytt, J. C. and Schneider, T. "Integrated source-free all optical sampling with a sampling rate of up to three times the RF bandwidth of silicon photonic MZM." Optics Express, 27(21), 2019, pp. 29972-29984. https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.27.029972.
  3. Sefler, G. A., Shaw, T. J. and Valley, G. C. "Demonstration of speckle-based compressive sensing system for recovering RF signals." Optics express, 26(17), 2018, pp. 21390-21402. https://doi.org/10.1364/OE.26.021390.
  4. Kim, J. and Song, Y. "Ultralow-noise mode-locked fiber lasers and frequency combs: principles, status, and applications." Advances in Optics and Photonics, 8(3), 2016, pp. 465-540. https://doi.org/10.1364/AOP.8.000465.
  5. Research Directorate, Defense, Research and Engineering (DDR&E). "Technology readiness assessment (TRA) Deskbook. Department of Defense, July 2009, pp. C-4-C-5. http://www.acqnotes.com/Attachments/Technology%20Readiness%20Assessment%20Deskbook.pdf.

KEYWORDS: Low jitter Lasers; Mode Locked Lasers; Photonic Sampling; Optical Speckle; Direct RF Conversion; Optical Compressive Sensing

** TOPIC NOTICE **

The Navy Topic above is an "unofficial" copy from the overall DoD 21.2 SBIR BAA. Please see the official DoD Topic website at rt.cto.mil/rtl-small-business-resources/sbir-sttr/ for any updates.

The DoD issued its 21.2 SBIR BAA pre-release on April 21, which opens to receive proposals on May 19, 2021, and closes June 17, 2021 (12:00pm edt).

Direct Contact with Topic Authors: During the pre-release period (April 21 thru May 18, 2021) proposing firms have an opportunity to directly contact the Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) to ask technical questions about the specific BAA topic. Once DoD begins accepting proposals on May 19, 2021 no further direct contact between proposers and topic authors is allowed unless the Topic Author is responding to a question submitted during the Pre-release period.

SITIS Q&A System: After the pre-release period, proposers may submit written questions through SITIS (SBIR/STTR Interactive Topic Information System) at www.dodsbirsttr.mil/topics-app/, login and follow instructions. In SITIS, the questioner and respondent remain anonymous but all questions and answers are posted for general viewing.

Note: Questions should be limited to specific information related to improving the understanding of a particular topic�s requirements. Proposing firms may not ask for advice or guidance on solution approach and you may not submit additional material to the topic author. If information provided during an exchange with the topic author is deemed necessary for proposal preparation, that information will be made available to all parties through SITIS. After the pre-release period, questions must be asked through the SITIS on-line system.

Topics Search Engine: Visit the DoD Topic Search Tool at www.dodsbirsttr.mil/topics-app/ to find topics by keyword across all DoD Components participating in this BAA.

Help: If you have general questions about DoD SBIR program, please contact the DoD SBIR Help Desk via email at [email protected]

[ Return ]