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High speed/microwave photonics R&D conducted since the early eighties have yielded many attractive terrestrial, undersea, and space/avionics applications that include data, telephone, and VoIP networks, multichannel CATV distribution, fiber optic feed network for wireless communications, onboard spacecraft signal processor, optical intersatellite links & networks, antenna remoting, and beam forming & steering of phased-array antennas, and radar systems. Use of nonlinear optical (NLO) polymer and semiconductor materials based opto-electronic integrated circuits (OEICs) & components developed in the late nineties further enhanced these photonics advantages where compatible micro-/nano-device processing demonstrated development of complex multi-functional (such as, optical generation, distribution, control, and detection of signals) single chips. Because of micro-miniaturization, packaging advances, and many unique and novel materials properties, recently developed micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), micro-opto-electro-mechanical systems (MOEMS), nano-technology, nano-structures, meta-materials (EBG/PBG), and nano-photonics are found highly suitable in space-borne communications systems. A marriage of such diverse materials and high-technologies promises the advent of next-generation lightweight, ultra-compact, prime power efficient, high reliability microwave/millimeter wave (MW/mmW) photonic hardware.
An overview of this development with a critical assessment of capability and commercial feasibility will be presented in this short course. Emphasis will be placed on the use of photonics in MW/mmW beam forming and steering of large multibeam, multichannel phased array antennas. Also, optical generation, transmission, block conversion (up/down), and distribution of high dynamic range MW/mmW signals will be discussed. State-of-the-art optical/MOEMS/nano-technologies, subsystems, and systems relevant to MW/mmW photonics applications will be presented including novel use of nanophotonics in large phased array antenna feed architectures.
The course material will be covered in two half-day sessions with a brief introduction of relevant optical technologies and various onboard & terrestrial MW/mmW systems deemed ready for immediate & future photonics insertion. This will be followed by a detailed presentation of several optical feed architectures, novel photonic components & materials, their manufacturability, systems integration, and performance testing, including results of field demonstration and technical assessment of selected MW/mmW photonic phased-array antenna feed networks. Also, many critical issues such as reliability and redundancy of payloads, mass, power, and volume requirements, and technology, commercial, and economic viability will be addressed. |
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Dr. Dilip Paul has 30+ years' communications industry and academic experience in advanced materials, fiber optics and lasercom technology with applications in undersea, terrestrial, and space environments. He has held senior administrative/technical positions in several telecom industries (Comsat Labs., Gould Fiber Optics, Nayna Networks, etc). He has taught in India and USA, pioneered formal graduate courses in fiber optics and integrated optics, and guided doctoral dissertations. He pioneered/chaired the SPIE Fiber Optic Reliability Conferences series held annually since 1983 and teaches topical short courses and tutorials in professional societies/meetings around the world. He is an internationally recognized leader in fiber optics reliability, microwave/millimeter wave photonics, optical switching and networks, and free-space lasercom technology with extensive professional services to IEEE, SPIE, AIAA, and OSA/LEOS in USA, and IETE in India. His most recent accomplishment at Nayna Networks includes design, development, and demonstration of large 3-D MOEM based optical switch arrays (1kx1k) routing many inputs to many outputs for large all-optical telecommunication networks. His current interest is in nanotechnology/science and applications
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