Photonics for Microwave Phased Arrays

Microwave Theory and Techniques (MTT Society) and co-sponsoring Aerospace and Electronic Society

Refreshments: 5:30PM

Photonics for Microwave Phased Arrays – Dr. Paul Juodawlkis, MIT Lincoln Laboratory

Fiber-optic communications technology serves as the primary backbone of the information age due to the ultra-wide bandwidth (> 50 THz) and low loss (< 0.5 dB/km) of modern optical fibers. Fiber-optic systems are used to transfer voice and data around the world, stream high-definition movies to the home, and provide backhaul connectivity for cellular phone networks. While the majority of these optical interconnects are used to transfer digital signals, similar photonic components (e.g., lasers, optical modulators, photodetectors) can be used to generate, process, and transfer analog signals. This talk will explore the application of both analog and digital photonic technologies to microwave phased-arrays. We will motivate the potential impact of photonics on microwave phased-arrays, provide an overview of the differences between analog and digital photonic components and performance metrics, describe the fundamentals and state-of-the-art for analog or microwave photonic links, and discuss the analog and digital functions in phased-array systems that can be augmented or replaced using photonic technologies. Dr. Paul Juodawlkis is Assistant Leader of the Quantum Information and Integrated Nanosystems Group at MIT Lincoln Laboratory where he is working to develop photonic integrated circuit (PIC) technology for application to quantum information systems, optical communications, laser radar, inertial navigation, and microwave sensing. Over the past decade, he led the team that developed the semiconductor slab-coupled optical waveguide amplifier (SCOWA) and used it to realize Watt-class power amplifiers, mode-locked lasers, and low-noise single-frequency lasers having record performance. In earlier work, he made key contributions to the development of optical sampling techniques for microwave frequency translation and photonic analog-to-digital conversion. Dr. Juodawlkis has authored or coauthored over 130 peer-reviewed journal and conference publications, and has participated on a number of technical program committees, including serving as Program Co-Chair (2010) and General Co-Chair (2012) of the Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics (CLEO). He was an elected member of the IEEE Photonics Society Board of Governors (2011-2013), served as Vice President of Membership for the Society (2014-2016), and is presently Secretary-Treasurer for the Society. Dr. Juodawlkis is a Fellow of both the IEEE and the Optical Society (OSA). He holds a BS degree from Michigan Technological University, a MS degree from Purdue University, and a PhD degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology, all in electrical engineering. Meeting Location: 3 Forbes Road, Lexington, MA