Vescent Photonics, LLC (Vescent) in collaboration with Robert Niffenegger at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (UMass) and Daniel Blumenthal at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) propose to develop an ultra-low phase noise photonic microwave time base that will meet the Navy's dual requirements for next generation synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and Doppler radar modalities as well as commercial applications including geodetic sensing for global surveying and mapping, 5G-and-beyond wireless communications, and commercial satellite communications. The photonic microwave time base will be generated using the optical frequency division of a fiber frequency comb locked to a high stability optical clock supporting instabilities below 1E-15 in a second. The unique link between the optical and microwave domain provided by the fiber frequency comb enables the generation of pristine microwave tones that will enable state-of-the-art radar systems with unprecedented stability for use in GPS-denied environments.
Benefit: From the support of recent SBIR funding and internal investment, Vescent Photonics became the first U.S.-owned vendor to bring to market an optical frequency comb product and has already generated multiple sales into field-deployed comb applications since product release in 2020 (greater than $4M in sales revenue). Relevant to this proposal, there has been significant commercial and government interest in an ultra-low phase noise microwave source with stability comparable to that of a maser and which can be used across a range of radar and field-deployed time and frequency platforms. From the support of this proposal, Vescent aims to be the first US supplier to provide an ultra-low phase noise photonic microwave source with unprecedented levels of stability. Not only will such a product have a substantial impact on the U.S. defense-related radar sensors market, but it will also find relevance in private-sector use cases including (1) geodetic sensing for global surveying, mapping, and construction projects, (2) 5G-and-beyond wireless communications, and (3) commercial satellite communication (SATCOM). The commercial growth potential is strong in both military and civilian applications with the radar sensors market expected to grow to > $30B by 2030, the market for geodetic measuring devices is expected to grow to >$3.8B by 2028, and the more niche hydrogen masers and Cs clocks market is expected to grow to > $170M by 2030. Accessing even a fraction of these markets would yield a significant return on investment. The results of this effort will provide a commercial ready, ultra-low phase noise, high-stability microwave source by the end of Phase II funding. ??????????????
Keywords: Timing Synchronization, Timing Synchronization, Doppler Radar, Quantum Timing, Microwave Photonics, Multistatic Synthetic Aperture Radar, Optical atomic clock, optical frequency comb, photonic integrated circuit
