Development of RF Photonic Transceivers for Communication and Remote Sensing

Current electronic-based technology for the generation, transmission, receiving, and processing of broadband signals in radar and remote sensing applications makes it challenging to meet the Small Weight and Power (SWaP) demands of CubeSat’s and other small satellite platforms. Furthermore, the need for higher spatial resolutions in said applications make it challenging to achieve satisfactory electrical performance over a broad frequency range of interest in current electronic-based RF front-end architectures. Recent progress in photonics technologies now enable the generation and processing of broadband microwave signals in the optical domain thereby eliminating the electrical performance challenges faced by current electronic-based RF front-end architectures. The objective of this proposal is to develop and demonstrate a novel electro-optic modulation architecture on a Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) for use in integrated microwave applications. The proposed architecture eliminates the need for an external RF modulator and driver circuit typically found in current RF photonic front-end architectures for converting microwave signals to a modulated optical signal. The proposed effort will focus on conceptualizing and implementing a novel Electro-Optical Modulator (EOM) architecture that will enable the direct conversion of microwave signals to a modulated optical signal at the antenna. The novelty of the proposed concept is the antenna hybrid design, which allow the pseudo-monolithic antenna structure to function as an RF antenna and as an EOM. A strong electric field present at the hybrid antenna feed point modifies the refractive index of an integrated electro-optical waveguide thus modulating an optical signal though the EO waveguide. The key objectives include: A. Perform system study of present-day photonics-based transceivers, radars and radiometers developed at GSFC and other commercial vendors. B. Identify limitations of the electro-optics (EO) components used in said photonics-based applications. C. Identify candidate EO materials for proposed hybrid antenna/EOM design. D. Identify software packages, toolkits, Process Design Kits (PDK) and foundry for simulation and prototyping. E. Layout design of proposed hybrid antenna/EOM PIC. F. Simulate and characterize limitation of proposed hybrid antenna/EOM PIC to include. G. Fabricate proposed hybrid antenna/EOM PIC. The proposed effort complements on-going efforts in industry and government seeking to develop receiver front ends with Small Weight and Power requirements.

The chip devices will be tested for a few remote sensing applications, such as estimation of absorptions by greenhouse gases, atmospheric sounding, and other LiDAR applications.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.