DARPA extends OEwaves' contract for optoelectronic oscillators

Why Tunable OEOs matter

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In many applications—UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), radar, communications, surveillance (C4ISR)—there is a critical need for oscillators that combine:

• Ultra-low phase noise
• Frequency agility (wide tuning range)
• Compact size, weight, and power (SWaP)
• Low sensitivity to vibration or acceleration

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Conventional microwave oscillators struggle to meet all these simultaneously. OEwaves’ strategy is to use optical components (fiber-based OEO plus WGM resonators) to push past those trade-offs. laserfocusworld.com

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Key aspects of the project include:

• Building a tunable OEO that combines a fiber-based delay line (for spectral purity) with a modulator based on a WGM resonator. The WGM resonator provides both modulation and the benefit of very high optical quality factor, which helps lower the oscillator’s noise. laserfocusworld.com
• Targeting a wide tuning range over 40 GHz. This means that the oscillator will not only be spectrally pure, but also agile over a large RF band. laserfocusworld.com
• Ensuring low acceleration sensitivity, making the system more robust in mobile or airborne platforms. This is particularly important for UAVs or other small platforms that must endure motion, vibration, and environmental changes. laserfocusworld.com
• Reducing size, weight, and power consumption relative to traditional microwave sources, via the use of optical / photonic components and ultra-high Q crystalline WGM resonator technology. laserfocusworld.com

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Expected Benefits & Impact

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This work could lead to oscillators that:

• Rival or surpass existing compact single-frequency OEOs in phase noise and spectral purity
• Offer wideband agility (tunable over tens of GHz) while maintaining low noise
• Be integrated into small, mobile systems (UAVs, perhaps small aircraft or portable radar) with greater resilience to vibrations and motion
• Reduce SWaP burdens on systems where weight, space, power are constrained

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This would enhance capabilities for radar, communications, electronic warfare, imaging, and surveillance in both military and civil contexts.

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Read more here.