Optical beam forming for phased-array antennas

The activities of the Telecommunication Engineering (TE) group span the communications spectrum from copper cables, optical fibres, microwaves, radio and electromagnetic compatibility. Our research concentrates on optical signal processing and networks, mobile communications, microwave techniques and radiation from ICs and PCBs [1]. A considerable (and particularly interesting) part of it is related to optical beam forming for phased array antennas, using optical ring resonators.\ud In this article the theoretical basics and practical challenges of this interesting research topic will be summarized.\u

Optical monitoring system for scalable all-optical networks

High traffic and high capacity communications are believed to become cost-effective with the use of all-optical networks based on OFDM (optical frequency division multiplexing). In such networks, new strategies for OA and M (operation, administration and maintenance) functions need to be developed so as to suit the introduction of a new optical layer where in wavelength routing is exploited and faults are detected in a transparent manner. In this paper, we propose a scheme to monitor optical channels in the optical layer for supporting OA and M functions of a transparent and scalable photonic network.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Quantum optical waveform conversion

Currently proposed architectures for long-distance quantum communication rely on networks of quantum processors connected by optical communications channels [1,2]. The key resource for such networks is the entanglement of matter-based quantum systems with quantum optical fields for information transmission. The optical interaction bandwidth of these material systems is a tiny fraction of that available for optical communication, and the temporal shape of the quantum optical output pulse is often poorly suited for long-distance transmission. Here we demonstrate that nonlinear mixing of a quantum light pulse with a spectrally tailored classical field can compress the quantum pulse by more than a factor of 100 and flexibly reshape its temporal waveform, while preserving all quantum properties, including entanglement. Waveform conversion can be used with heralded arrays of quantum light emitters to enable quantum communication at the full data rate of optical telecommunications.Comment: submitte

Optically controlled microwave devices and circuits: Emerging applications in space communications systems

Optical control of microwave devices and circuits by an optical fiber has the potential to simplify signal distribution networks in high frequency communications systems. The optical response of two terminal and three terminal (GaAs MESFET, HEMT, PBT) microwave devices are compared and several schemes for controlling such devices by modulated optical signals examined. Monolithic integration of optical and microwave functions on a single semiconductor substrate is considered to provide low power, low loss, and reliable digital and analog optical links for signal distribution