High-speed RF data acquisition is critical for modern military aircraft, enabling real-time situational awareness, precision targeting, and secure communication in contested environments. With surging bandwidth demands, direct digitization receivers have become essential to reduce latency, preserve signal integrity, and enhance tactical response. However, this approach, which relies on advanced analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and bulky coaxial cabling, faces significant challenges including high power consumption, susceptibility to electromagnetic interference (EMI) and thermal shocks, bandwidth limitations, and scalability issues. Thin-film lithium niobate (TFLN) Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) RF-over-fiber links, which convert RF signals to high-speed optical analog signals routing them through lightweight, low-loss optical fibers, provides an effective alternative for RF data acquisition receivers. TFLN modulators feature low drive voltages (sub-1V) and compact footprints, making them highly scalable. Additionally, both TFLN modulators and optical fibers support ultra-high bandwidths, reaching hundreds of gigahertz. Conventional TFLN MZI implementations are, however, not optimized to handle extreme vibration, thermal shocks, and EMI conditions encountered in military aircraft. This proposal aims to overcome these barriers by developing ruggedized TFLN modulators using advanced photonic engineering, novel material designs, and robust packaging to achieve low Vp, wide bandwidths (10 MHz to 20 GHz), and reliable performance across the full military temperature and EMI ranges to support high-capacity, low-latency optical links.
Benefit: The proposed TFLN modulator will significantly enhance airborne RF photonic systems by reducing analog signal attenuation, improving robustness to EMI and thermal shocks while maintaining strict size, weight, and power (SWaP) constraints. Our robust design is optimized for the extreme thermal, vibrational, and EMI conditions of military aircraft, ensuring high signal fidelity RF transmission in the most demanding military environments. Beyond military aviation, this technology has broad commercial potential in 5G/6G systems, satellite communications, radar, and high-speed optical links, where resilience, bandwidth, and SWaP optimization are critical. It also supports emerging platforms including UAVs and space systems, addressing the growing need for compact, high-performance, low-latency communication networks.
Keywords: Photonic Receivers, Photonic Receivers, electro-optic modulator, thermal shock resistance, military aircraft, Bias Control, RF-Over-Fiber Links, thin-film lithium niobate, Electromagnetic Susceptibility
