REMBRANDT Project Collaborators to Advance Microwave Photonics

LioniX International and the Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) will work with Lockheed Martin to develop a novel microwave photonic solution supporting space and defense missions. The collaboration takes place under the REMBRANDT project which develops foundational technologies supporting next-generation communication and sensing through international collaboration.

NLR, LioniX, and Lockheed Martin will work to develop microwave photonic integrated circuit technology to provide significant advantages with respect to bandwidth and reconfigurability compared with traditional microwave technology.

A hybrid PIC assembly which operates as a 4×1 single beam true-time delay receiver at 17-21 GHz. The assembled functional module comprised printed circuit boards, connectors, a fiber array, indium phosphide (InP) photo diode array, the LioniX Beamformer PIC, an InP modulator array and InP photodiode. The red laser light is injected to visually inspect the PIC as the light propagates through the silicon nitride waveguides. Courtesy of LioniX International.

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Microwave photonics is an emerging field in which high frequency electronic signals are generated, distributed, processed and analyzed using the strength of photonic techniques. “This miniaturized photonic technology will be an enabler for advancing the state of the art of space and defense microwave systems,” stated Stephen Robertson, Principal Scientist and Fellow at Lockheed Martin.

The partnership will leverage NLR’s expertise in aerospace and space technology to derive functional and environmental requirements and perform various verification tests to ensure that the technology can withstand harsh conditions like low temperatures and vacuum conditions, as well as ensuring that it meets rigorous standards required for secure communications and sensing systems.

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Published: November 2024

Glossary

integrated photonics: Integrated photonics is a field of study and technology that involves the integration of optical components, such as lasers, modulators, detectors, and waveguides, on a single chip or substrate. The goal of integrated photonics is to miniaturize and consolidate optical elements in a manner similar to the integration of electronic components on a microchip in traditional integrated circuits. Key aspects of integrated photonics include: Miniaturization: Integrated photonics aims to...
photonic integrated circuit: A photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is a compact and integrated device that incorporates multiple photonic components and functions on a single chip, similar to the way electronic integrated circuits (ICs) integrate various electronic components. The goal of a photonic integrated circuit is to manipulate and control light signals for applications in optical communication, sensing, signal processing, and other photonic technologies. Key points about photonic integrated circuits: Integration...
microwave: An electromagnetic wave lying within the region of the frequency spectrum that is between about 1000 MHz (1 GHz) and 100,000 MHz (100 GHz). This is equivalent to the wavelength spectrum that is between one millimeter and one meter, and is also referred to as the infrared and short wave spectrum.

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