Strategies towards high performance (high-resolution/linearity) time-to-digital converters on field-programmable gate arrays

Time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC) technology has become popular in scientific research and industrial applications, such as high-energy physics, bio-sensing, non-invasion health monitoring, and 3D imaging. Because of the increasing demand for high-precision time measurements, time-to-digital converters (TDCs) have attracted attention since the 1970s. As a fully digital solution, TDCs are portable and have great potential for multichannel applications compared to bulky and expensive time-to-amplitude converters (TACs). A TDC can be implemented in ASIC and FPGA devices. Due to the low cost, flexibility, and short development cycle, FPGA-TDCs have become promising. Starting with a literature review, three original FPGA-TDCs with outstanding performance are introduced. The first design is the first efficient wave union (WU) based TDC implemented in Xilinx UltraScale (20 nm) FPGAs with a bubble-free sub-TDL structure. Combining with other existing methods, the resolution is further enhanced to 1.23 ps. The second TDC has been designed for LiDAR applications, especially in driver-less vehicles. Using the proposed new calibration method, the resolution is adjustable (50, 80, and 100 ps), and the linearity is exceptionally high (INL pk-pk and INL pk-pk are lower than 0.05 LSB). Meanwhile, a software tool has been open-sourced with a graphic user interface (GUI) to predict TDCs’ performance. In the third TDC, an onboard automatic calibration (AC) function has been realized by exploiting Xilinx ZYNQ SoC architectures. The test results show the robustness of the proposed method. Without the manual calibration, the AC function enables FPGA-TDCs to be applied in commercial products where mass production is required.Time-correlated single-photon counting (TCSPC) technology has become popular in scientific research and industrial applications, such as high-energy physics, bio-sensing, non-invasion health monitoring, and 3D imaging. Because of the increasing demand for high-precision time measurements, time-to-digital converters (TDCs) have attracted attention since the 1970s. As a fully digital solution, TDCs are portable and have great potential for multichannel applications compared to bulky and expensive time-to-amplitude converters (TACs). A TDC can be implemented in ASIC and FPGA devices. Due to the low cost, flexibility, and short development cycle, FPGA-TDCs have become promising. Starting with a literature review, three original FPGA-TDCs with outstanding performance are introduced. The first design is the first efficient wave union (WU) based TDC implemented in Xilinx UltraScale (20 nm) FPGAs with a bubble-free sub-TDL structure. Combining with other existing methods, the resolution is further enhanced to 1.23 ps. The second TDC has been designed for LiDAR applications, especially in driver-less vehicles. Using the proposed new calibration method, the resolution is adjustable (50, 80, and 100 ps), and the linearity is exceptionally high (INL pk-pk and INL pk-pk are lower than 0.05 LSB). Meanwhile, a software tool has been open-sourced with a graphic user interface (GUI) to predict TDCs’ performance. In the third TDC, an onboard automatic calibration (AC) function has been realized by exploiting Xilinx ZYNQ SoC architectures. The test results show the robustness of the proposed method. Without the manual calibration, the AC function enables FPGA-TDCs to be applied in commercial products where mass production is required

Hardware Development of an Ultra-Wideband System for High Precision Localization Applications

A precise localization system in an indoor environment has been developed. The developed system is based on transmitting and receiving picosecond pulses and carrying out a complete narrow-pulse, signal detection and processing scheme in the time domain. The challenges in developing such a system include: generating ultra wideband (UWB) pulses, pulse dispersion due to antennas, modeling of complex propagation channels with severe multipath effects, need for extremely high sampling rates for digital processing, synchronization between the tag and receivers’ clocks, clock jitter, local oscillator (LO) phase noise, frequency offset between tag and receivers’ LOs, and antenna phase center variation. For such a high precision system with mm or even sub-mm accuracy, all these effects should be accounted for and minimized. In this work, we have successfully addressed many of the above challenges and developed a stand-alone system for positioning both static and dynamic targets with approximately 2 mm and 6 mm of 3-D accuracy, respectively. The results have exceeded the state of the art for any commercially available UWB positioning system and are considered a great milestone in developing such technology. My contributions include the development of a picosecond pulse generator, an extremely wideband omni-directional antenna, a highly directive UWB receiving antenna with low phase center variation, an extremely high data rate sampler, and establishment of a non-synchronized UWB system architecture. The developed low cost sampler, for example, can be easily utilized to sample narrow pulses with up to 1000 GS/s while the developed antennas can cover over 6 GHz bandwidth with minimal pulse distortion. The stand-alone prototype system is based on tracking a target using 4-6 base stations and utilizing a triangulation scheme to find its location in space. Advanced signal processing algorithms based on first peak and leading edge detection have been developed and extensively evaluated to achieve high accuracy 3-D localization. 1D, 2D and 3D experiments have been carried out and validated using an optical reference system which provides better than 0.3 mm 3-D accuracy. Such a high accuracy wireless localization system should have a great impact on the operating room of the future

Novel linear and nonlinear optical signal processing for ultra-high bandwidth communications

The thesis is articulated around the theme of ultra-wide bandwidth single channel signals. It focuses on the two main topics of transmission and processing of information by techniques compatible with high baudrates. The processing schemes introduced combine new linear and nonlinear optical platforms such as Fourier-domain programmable optical processors and chalcogenide chip waveguides, as well as the concept of neural network. Transmission of data is considered in the context of medium distance links of Optical Time Division Multiplexed (OTDM) data subject to environmental fluctuations. We experimentally demonstrate simultaneous compensation of differential group delay and multiple orders of dispersion at symbol rates of 640 Gbaud and 1.28 Tbaud. Signal processing at high bandwidth is envisaged both in the case of elementary post-transmission analog error mitigation and in the broader field of optical computing for high level operations (“optical processor”). A key innovation is the introduction of a novel four-wave mixing scheme implementing a dot-product operation between wavelength multiplexed channels. In particular, it is demonstrated for low-latency hash-key based all-optical error detection in links encoded with advanced modulation formats. Finally, the work presents groundbreaking concepts for compact implementation of an optical neural network as a programmable multi-purpose processor. The experimental architecture can implement neural networks with several nodes on a single optical nonlinear transfer function implementing functions such as analog-to-digital conversion. The particularity of the thesis is the new approaches to optical signal processing that potentially enable high level operations using simple optical hardware and limited cascading of components

Optical sampling and metrology using a soliton-effect compression pulse source

A low jitter optical pulse source for applications including optical sampling and optical metrology was modelled and then experimentally implemented using photonic components. Dispersion and non-linear fibre effects were utilised to compress a periodic optical waveform to generate pulses of the order of 10 picoseconds duration, via soliton-effect compression. Attractive features of this pulse source include electronically tuneable repetition rates greater than 1.5 GHz, ultra-short pulse duration (10-15 ps), and low timing jitter as measured by both harmonic analysis and single-sideband (SSB) phase noise measurements. The experimental implementation of the modelled compression scheme is discussed, including the successful removal of stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) through linewidth broadening by injection dithering or phase modulation. Timing jitter analysis identifies many unwanted artefacts generated by the SBS suppression methods, hence an experimental arrangement is devised (and was subsequently patented) which ensures that there are no phase modulation spikes present on the SSB phase noise spectrum over the offset range of interest for optical sampling applications, 10Hz-Nyquist. It is believed that this is the first detailed timing jitter study of a soliton-effect compression scheme. The soliton-effect compression pulses are then used to perform what is believed to be the first demonstration of optical sampling using this type of pulse source. The pulse source was also optimised for use in a novel optical metrology (range finding) system, which is being developed and patented under European Space Agency funding as an enabling technology for formation flying satellite missions. This new approach to optical metrology, known as Scanning Interferometric Pulse Overlap Detection (SIPOD), is based on scanning the optical pulse repetition rate to find the specific frequencies which allow the return pulses from the outlying satellite, i.e. the measurement arm, to overlap exactly with a reference pulse set on the hub satellite. By superimposing a low frequency phase modulation onto the optical pulse train, it is possible to detect the pulse overlap condition using conventional heterodyne detection. By rapidly scanning the pulse repetition rate to find two frequencies which provide the overlapping pulse condition, high precision optical pulses can be used to provide high resolution unambiguous range information, using only relatively simple electronic detection circuitry. SIPOD’s maximum longitudinal range measurement is limited only by the coherence length of the laser, which can be many tens of kilometres. Range measurements have been made to better than 10 microns resolution over extended duration trial periods, at measurement update rates of up to 470 Hz. This system is currently scheduled to fly on ESA’s PROBA-3 mission in 2012 to measure the intersatellite spacing for a two satellite coronagraph instrument. In summary, this thesis is believed to present three novel areas of research: the first detailed jitter characterisation of a soliton-effect compression source, the first optical sampling using such a compression source, and a novel optical metrology range finding system, known as SIPOD, which utilises the tuneable repetition rate and highly stable nature of the compression source pulses

Performance enhancement techniques for low power digital phase locked loops

Desire for low-power, high performance computing has been at core of the symbiotic union between digital circuits and CMOS scaling. While digital circuit performance improves with device scaling, analog circuits have not gained these benefits. As a result, it has become necessary to leverage increased digital circuit performance to mitigate analog circuit deficiencies in nanometer scale CMOS in order to realize world class analog solutions. In this thesis, both circuit and system enhancement techniques to improve performance of clock generators are discussed. The following techniques were developed: (1) A digital PLL that employs an adaptive and highly efficient way to cancel the effect of supply noise, (2) a supply regulated DPLL that uses low power regulator and improves supply noise rejection, (3) a digital multiplying DLL that obviates the need for high-resolution TDC while achieving sub-picosecond jitter and excellent supply noise immunity, and (4) a high resolution TDC based on a switched ring oscillator, are presented. Measured results obtained from the prototype chips are presented to illustrate the proposed design techniques

Quantum correlations measured with multi-pixel detectors

This thesis investigates the measurement of spatial correlations of photon pairs generated through spontaneous parametric down-conversion with single-photon sensitive multi-pixel detectors. A custom designed and fabricated 8£1 fibre array detector for time to position multiplexing was characterised. This detector was then commissioned in an experiment measuring the spatial correlations of photon pairs in position, momentum and intermediate bases. The fibre array measured eight positions simultaneously with one Single-Photon Avalanche Diode, which led to an eight-fold increase in the data acquisition rate compared to traditional experiments, where a single SPAD was scanned across the detection plane. To capture all of the emitted light, an electron-multiplying CCD (EMCCD) camera was used. The spatial correlations were measured for the first time in momentumand position bases with a single-photon sensitive camera. Additionally, over 2500 spatial states were accessed,which, to date, is the highest number of accessed states, using the transverse positions of correlated photon pairs. The detected photon pairs were tested, if they fulfil the requirements of entanglement. The calculated variance product was 1 order of magnitude and almost three orders of magnitude below the classical limit of separability for the fibre array and the EMCCD camera respectively. Finally the image enhancement of using a correlated light source with a noise rejection algorithm was investigated experimentally and theoretically

Optical Microwave Signal Generation for Data Transmission in Optical Networks

The massive growth of telecommunication services and the increasing global data traffic boost the development, implementation, and integration of different networks for data transmission. An example of this development is the optical fiber networks, responsible today for the inter-continental connection through long-distance links and high transfer rates. The optical networks, as well as the networks supported by other transmission media, use electrical signals at specific frequencies for the synchronization of the network elements. The quality of these signals is usually determined in terms of phase noise. Due to the major impact of the phase noise over the system performance, its value should be minimized. The research work presented in this document describes the design and implementation of an optoelectronic system for the microwave signal generation using a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) and its integration into an optical data transmission system. Considering that the proposed system incorporates a directly modulated VCSEL, a theoretical and experimental characterization was developed based on the laser rate equations, dynamic and static measurements, and an equivalent electrical model of the active region. This procedure made possible the extraction of some VCSEL intrinsic parameters, as well as the validation and simulation of the VCSEL performance under specific modulation conditions. The VCSEL emits in C-band, this wavelength was selected because it is used in long-haul links. The proposed system is a self-initiated oscillation system caused by internal noise sources, which includes a VCSEL modulated in large signal to generate optical pulses (gain switching). The optical pulses, and the optical frequency comb associated, generate in electrical domain simultaneously a fundamental frequency (determined by a band-pass filter) and several harmonics. The phase noise measured at 10 kHz from the carrier at 1.25 GHz was -127.8 dBc/Hz, and it is the lowest value reported in the literature for this frequency and architecture. Both the jitter and optical pulse width were determined when different resonant cavities and polarization currents were employed. The lowest pulse duration was 85 ps and was achieved when the fundamental frequency was 2.5 GHz. As for the optical frequency comb, it was demonstrated that its flatness depends on the electrical modulation conditions. The flattest profiles are obtained when the fundamental frequency is higher than the VCSEL relaxation frequency. Both the electrical and the optical output of the system were integrated into an optical transmitter. The electrical signal provides the synchronization of the data generating equipment, whereas the optical pulses are employed as an optical carrier. Data transmissions at 155.52 Mb/s, 622.08 Mb/s and 1.25 Gb/s were experimentally validated. It was demonstrated that the fundamental frequency and harmonics could be extracted from the optical data signal transmitted by a band-pass filter. It was also experimentally proved that the pulsed return-to-zero (RZ) transmitter at 1.25 Gb/s, achieves bit error rates (BER) lower than $10^{-9}$ when the optical power at the receiver is higher than -33 dBm.La masificación de los servicios de telecomunicaciones y el creciente tráfico global de datos han impulsado el desarrollo, despliegue e integración de diferentes redes para la transmisión de datos. Un ejemplo de este despliegue son las redes de fibra óptica, responsables en la actualidad de la interconexión de los continentes a través de enlaces de grandes longitudes y altas tasas de transferencia. Las redes ópticas, al igual que las redes soportadas por otros medios de transmisión, utilizan señales eléctricas a frecuencias específicas para la sincronización de los elementos de red. La calidad de estas señales es determinante en el desempeño general del sistema, razón por la que su ruido de fase debe ser lo más pequeño posible. El trabajo de investigación presentado en este documento describe el diseño e implementación de un sistema optoelectrónico para la generación de señales microondas utilizando diodos láser de cavidad vertical (VCSEL) y su integración en un sistema de transmisión de datos óptico. Teniendo en cuenta que el sistema propuesto incorpora un láser VCSEL modulado directamente, se desarrolló una caracterización teórico-experimental basada en las ecuaciones de evolución del láser, mediciones dinámicas y estáticas, y un modelo eléctrico equivalente de la región activa. Este procedimiento posibilitó la extracción de algunos parámetros intrínsecos del VCSEL, al igual que la validación y simulación de su desempeño bajo diferentes condiciones de modulación. El VCSEL utilizado emite en banda C y fue seleccionado considerando que esta banda es comúnmente utilizada en enlaces de largo alcance. El sistema propuesto consiste en un lazo cerrado que inicia la oscilación gracias a las fuentes de ruido de los componentes y modula el VCSEL en gran señal para generar pulsos ópticos (conmutación de ganancia). Estos pulsos ópticos, que en el dominio de la frecuencia corresponden a un peine de frecuencia óptico, son detectados para generar simultáneamente una frecuencia fundamental (determinada por un filtro pasa banda) y varios armónicos. El ruido de fase medido a 10 kHz de la portadora a 1.25 GHz fue -127.8 dBc/Hz, y es el valor más bajo reportado en la literatura para esta frecuencia y arquitectura. Tanto la fluctuación de fase (jitter) y el ancho de los pulsos ópticos fueron determinados cuando diferentes cavidades resonantes y corrientes de polarización fueron empleadas. La duración de pulso más baja fue 85 ps y se obtuvo cuando la frecuencia fundamental del sistema era 2.5 GHz. En cuanto al peine de frecuencia óptico, se demostró que su planitud (flatness) depende de las condiciones eléctricas de modulación y que los perfiles más planos se obtienen cuando la frecuencia fundamental es superior a la frecuencia de relajación del VCSEL. Tanto la salida eléctrica como la salida óptica del sistema fueron integradas en un transmisor óptico. La señal eléctrica permite la sincronización de los equipos encargados de generar los datos, mientras que los pulsos ópticos son utilizados como portadora óptica. La transmisión de datos a 155.52 Mb/s, 622.08 Mb/s y 1.25 Gb/s fue validada experimentalmente. Se demostró que la frecuencia fundamental y los armónicos pueden ser extraídos de la señal óptica de datos transmitida mediante un filtro pasa banda. También se comprobó experimentalmente que el transmisor de datos pulsados con retorno a cero (RZ) a 1.25 Gb/s, logra tasas de error de bit (BER) menores a 10-9 cuando la potencia óptica en el receptor es mayor a -33 dBm.Gobernación de NariñoBPIN 2013000100092Doctorad

CMS-TOTEM Precision Proton Spectrometer

This report describes the technical design and outlines the expected performance of the CMS-TOTEM Precision Proton Spectrometer (CT-PPS). CT-PPS adds precision proton tracking and timing detectors in the very forward region on both sides of CMS at about 200m from the IP to study central exclusive production (CEP) in proton-proton collisions. CEP provides a unique method to access a variety of physics topics at high luminosity LHC, such as new physics via anomalous production of W and Z boson pairs, high-pT jet production, and possibly the production of new resonances. The CT-PPS detector consists of a silicon tracking system to measure the position and direction of the protons, and a set of timing counters to measure their arrival time with a precision of the order of 10 ps. This in turn allows the reconstruction of the mass and momentum as well as of the z coordinate of the primary vertex of the centrally produced system. The framework for the development and exploitation of CT-PPS is defined in a Memorandum of Understanding signed by CERN as the host laboratory and the CMS and TOTEM Collaborations. The expected performance of CT-PPS is discussed, including detailed studies of exclusive WW and dijet production. The planning for the implementation of the new detectors is presented, including construction, testing, and installation

Linear and nonlinear optical pulse characterisation

Developmental work on the generation and measurement of ultrashort pulses has been performed. A colliding pulse, passively mode-locked (CPM) ring dye laser has been investigated by spectral analysis and the nonlinear technique of second harmonic generation autocorrelation. Two systems for the intracavity compensation of group velocity dispersion (GVD) have been experimentally compared in the CPM laser. Initially one scheme, utilising Gires-Toumois interferometers, has achieved pulse durations of 64 fs. A second technique employing a four-prism sequence within the cavity gave typical pulse durations of -40 fs and focussing adjustments within the jets achieved durations as short as 19 fs for the first time. A realtime interferometric autocorrelator was constructed and detailed theoretical work has been performed to model the resultant fringe resolved autocorrelations as a function of pulseshape and frequency chirp. Spectral and autocorrelation analysis of the CPM laser led to the inference that the laser pulse intensity profiles were distinctly asymmetric. The main sources of frequency chirp within the laser cavity were assessed in order to find possible explanations for this type of laser behaviour. The linear pulse measurement technique employing synchroscan streak cameras was also critically assessed in terms of the available temporal resolutions as a function of phase noise in the RF deflection signal. Two streak tube designs, the Photochron II and the Photochron IV, have been experimentally compared employing the CPM laser as a test pulse source. Optimisation of the synchronisation circuitry has allowed the notable achievement of a temporal resolution of 0.93ps for the Photochron IV streak camera. A computer-interfaced readout system incorporating a charge coupled device (CCD) sensor has been developed which allows the recording of synchroscan streak events with a digitisation accuracy up to 12 bits. Preliminary experimentation was also performed to investigate the feasibility of incorporating a electron sensitive CCD structure within the envelope of the streak camera. It is intended that such a streak camera will be incorporated in a spaceborne laser ranging system and a theoretical assessment of the expected instrument performance has been performed. The above investigations have direct relevance to other types of ultrashort pulse sources and their application in optical communications, time-resolved spectroscopy and ultrafast electrooptic sampling

Monolithic Colliding Pulse Mode-Locked Quantum Well Lasers

The design, fabrication and characterisation of monolithic passive colliding pulse mode-locked (CPM) quantum well lasers are described. Firstly, a standard configuration of CPM laser is realised and mode-locking is obtained at repetition rates in the range of 73 to 129 GHz. These are the first published results on monolithic CPM quantum well laser at short wavelength, i.e. GaAs/AlGaAs based material. This device presented a previously unseen output laser polarisation dependence with the applied reverse bias to the absorber section of this laser. The generation of TE and TM polarised light from the CPM laser is analysed and discussed. A novel configuration of CPM laser, the multiple colliding-pulse mode-locked (MCPM) laser is realised. This multi-section device can have 1, 2, or 3 monolithically integrated saturable absorber sections in the cavity, inducing the laser to operate at the first up to the fourth harmonic of the repetition rate. This is the first observation of geometry dependent switcheable change of harmonics in mode-locked lasers. The different regimes of operation of the MCPM laser are investigated, comprising single mode, multimode, Q-switched and first to fourth harmonic mode-locking, generating pulses of around 1 to 3 ps width at up to 375 GHz repetition rate. Studies of the range of mode-locking at 240 GHz show that mode-locking occurs at two distinct regions of current and reverse bias. This previously unseen feature may represent an indication of the contribution of excitonic nonlinearities to the ultra-fast operation of the device. A monolithic CPM ring laser with two saturable absorbers in the cavity is described. Frequency domain measurements indicate mode-locking operation at 28 GHz repetition rate. The use of two saturable absorbers in colliding pulse configuration in the ring cavity showed improvements on the device operation. The design and fabrication of a CPM laser based device which is intended to perform clock recovery at high repetition rates, above 100 GHz, is described. This device consists of a standard CPM laser which has an extra waveguide in side-injection configuration. This extra waveguide amplifies and guides the optical signal from which the clock is to be recovered to the absorber section of the laser. To achieve clock recovery this signal should contribute to the saturation of the absorber section of the CPM laser, synchronising its saturation with the injected data signal. Preliminary characterisation and tests showed that the CPM laser part of the device works as a standard CPM laser, as expected