Abstract: A method of identifying a viral compound, which includes modulating a narrow linewidth laser over a range of frequencies to provide a modulated optical signal that includes a single optical sideband, optically focusing the modulated optical signal with the single optical sideband at a viral sample to excite the viral sample and stimulate an emission of photons therefrom, and detecting amplification of the optical sideband emanating from the viral sample indicating an emission of photons at an acoustic resonance of the viral sample.

Abstract: A method of performing optical serial-to-parallel conversion of an optical signal includes performing phase modulation of the optical pulse stream and outputting a phase-modulated optical signal as a result thereof. The method also includes performing optical switching of the phase-modulated optical signal by optical switches connected to each other in a series relationship on a signal path. The method further includes performing optical switching of a reference optical clock signal by optical switches connected to each other in a series relationship on a reference path.

Abstract: A current-mode analog-digital conversion (ADC) circuit directly samples and digitizes an input signal in the current domain; the input signal may be a current signal or a photonic signal. Input capacitors may be coupled to the current source by a series of switches and configured to store a target charge. The target charge may be compared to a reference voltage by comparators of the system to generate digital output. The current-mode ADC circuit may be adapted to flash, successive-approximation, and pipeline architectures, or embodied in a photonic receiver incorporating current-mode ADC circuits configured to sample and digitize photonic signals.

Abstract: A system for optically down-converting a radio-frequency signal includes phase modulators in a push-pull configuration. Separately tuned optical bandpass filters pass through one or more harmonics and inverse harmonics based on the RF signal to produce a local oscillator. A balanced photo-detector receives a coherent interference signal and derives the down-converted local oscillator from a filtered harmonic and inverse harmonic.

Abstract: A method and related system for linearizing a photonic ADC sampling system of an ELINT receiver includes modulating optical pulse trains of varied pulse amplitudes based on a generated ramped-voltage calibration signal. The modulated pulse trains are demodulated into I/Q components to generate signal constellations. Equivoltage radials are defined by points of the signal constellations sharing a common calibration voltage and a common phase angle of the modulator. A lookup table is generated by mapping the signal constellations and equivoltage radials to a coordinate system to determine, for each coordinate bin, a corresponding pulse amplitude and phase angle. The generated lookup table may be used to correct nonlinear distortions in recovered output signals, preserving high-ENOB performance and increasing the dynamic range of the receiver.

Abstract: A mode-locked laser has optical components integrated into a single apparatus and interrelated via optical free-space coupling. The laser optical cavity path is reduced to less than ten meters, primarily composed of optical gain fiber. A Fabry-Perot filter is matched to the laser pulse repetition frequency. Utilizing a Fabry-Perot filter within the laser optical cavity suppresses supermode spurs in the phase noise spectrum; thereby reducing total timing jitter.

Abstract: A photonic analog to digital converter (pADC) includes an electronic I/Q generator, an optical sampler, and an optical detector. The electronic I/Q generator is configured to receive an RF signal and to generate an electronic in-phase signal I and an electronic quadrature-phase signal Q based on the received RF signal. The optical sampler includes one or more optical intensity modulators configured to receive the electronic I and Q signals from the electronic I/Q generator, and to modulate optical pulses to provide modulated optical I and Q signals based on the received electronic I and Q signals from the electronic I/Q generator. The optical detector includes a plurality of photodetectors, and is arranged to receive the modulated optical I and Q signals from the optical sampler and to convert the modulated optical I and Q signals into modulated electronic I and Q signals.

Abstract: A photonic processor can include a first input for a phase-modulated optical pulse signal, a second input for an optical reference signal, and a plurality of states. Each stage is configured to receive the phase-modulated optical pulse signal and a phase-delayed version of the optical reference signal. The phase-delayed version is phase-delayed in accordance with a phase position of the stage. Each stage is comprised of a reference path, a signal path, a coupler and a balanced photo detector. The coupler receives the phase-modulated optical pulse signal and provides as stage phase-modulated optical pulse signal to the signal path. The signal path is coupled to a first input of the balanced photo detector. The coupler also receives the phase-delayed version and provides a stage optical reference signal to the reference path. The reference path is coupled to a second input of the detector. The detector provides an electronic output signal corresponding to a phase relationship.

Abstract: A method of and system of processing a phase-modulated optical signal includes performing, by demodulators, demodulation of the phase-modulated optical signal and outputting optical demodulated signals. The processing further includes performing, by pairs of gated photo detectors respectively connected to the I/Q demodulators, photo detection of the demodulated signals. The processing further tracks and holds electronicversions of the demodulated signals with a track and hold amplifier.

Abstract: A photonic processor can include a first input for an amplitude-modulated optical pulse signal, a second input for an optical reference signal, and a plurality of stages. Each stage is configured to receive the amplitude-modulated optical pulse signal and a version of the optical reference signal. The version is amplitude attenuated in accordance with a position of the stage. Each stage is comprised of a reference path, a signal path, two couplers and a balanced photo detector. The first coupler receives the pulse signal and provides as stage pulse signal to the signal path coupled to a first input of the detector. The second coupler receives the version and provides a stage optical reference signal to the reference path coupled to a second input of the detector. The detector provides an electronic output signal corresponding to an amplitude relationship.

Abstract: A system and method of digitizing an analog signal without an amplitude channel is disclosed. The system and method includes receiving an analog signal comprising a voltage v(t) and a frequency f1, producing a series of optical pulses at a sampling frequency f2 with a pulsed laser, splitting the series of optical pulses into a first optical signal and an optical reference signal, phase modulating the first optical signal with the analog signal to produce a sampled optical signal such that phase shifts between adjacent samples in the sampled optical signal does not exceed ? radians, and receiving the sampled optical signal and the optical reference signal at a photonic signal processor.

Abstract: A method can be for use in a photonic analog to digital converter, a first optical signal and a radio frequency signal. The method modulates the first optical signal based on the radio frequency signal, quantizes one or more of phase, quadrature, and amplitude coordinates of the modulated signal, and provides the quantized coordinates to one or more electronic analog to digital converters.

Abstract: A receiver or spectrum determiner includes stages, Fourier transforms, phase delays and a summer. The stages are coupled are in pipelined fashion along a signal path. Each of the stages has a respective output for providing at least one respective demodulated signal for the stage. The Fourier transforms are for receiving the respective demodulated signal and providing a respective Fourier transform. The phase delays each have a delay associated with the respective stage. Each phase delay is for receiving the respective Fourier transform and providing a respective phase delayed transform in accordance with the respective stage. The summer is for summing the respective phase delayed Fourier transform from each phase delay. The receiver can be an electronic intelligence (ELINT) receiver.

Abstract: A photonic analog-to-digital signal conversion system can utilize an optical phase modulator configured to receive a first signal and a first optical pulse signal and to provide an optical phase—modulated pulse signal. A photonic processor can be configured to receive the optical phase—modulated pulse signal and the optical pulse signal and to provide an electronic first demodulated signal and an electronic second demodulated signal. A first comparator can be configured to receive the electronic first demodulated signal and provide a first compared signal, and a second comparator can be configured to receive the electronic second demodulated signal and provide a second compared signal. At least one logic circuit can be configured to receive the first compared signal and the second compared signal.

Abstract: An analog signal receiver includes photonic sampling and electronic quantization. The receiver includes timing control circuitry configured to receive a series of optical pulses and output a plurality of timing signals based on the series of optical pulses to synchronize optical switches that receive a sampled optical signal to time deinterleave the optically sampled signal. The time deinterleaved signals are then sent to a plurality of demodulators wherein each demodulator receives at least one time deinterleaved optically sampled signal and at least one time deinterleaved optical reference signal to produce electrical signals based on the demodulated optical signals.

Abstract: The present invention is an optical system configured for enabling co-transmission (ex.—co-propagation) of a reference signal and a carrier signal (ex.—or a phase encoded signal and a reference signal) in a same fiber. Since it is configured for enabling said co-transmission, the optical system of the present invention promotes reduced transmission microphonic sensitivity in the optical system.

Abstract: The present invention is a device including a wavelength division multiplexer for multiplexing a plurality of optical carrier signals on an optical fiber. A mission processor, including an optical line terminal (OLT) is communicatively coupled to a wavelength division multiplexor branch unit via an optical fiber for generating a plurality of fiber optic branches. A plurality of fiber optic branches communicatively coupled with the wavelength division multiplexor branch unit for communicating one or more signals to at least one optical network unit, wherein the mission processor transmits a first signal having at least one downstream wavelength to the wavelength division multiplexor branch unit, and wherein the plurality of fiber optic branches are configured for transmitting a branch signals having a plurality of wavelengths.

Abstract: A method of performing optical serial-to-parallel conversion of an optical signal includes performing phase modulation of the optical pulse stream and outputting a phase-modulated optical signal. Optical switching of the phase-modulated optical signal is performed by optical switches provided on a signal path. Optical switching of a reference optical clock signal is performed by optical switches provided on a reference path. I/Q demodulation of the optically switched phase-modulated optical signal respectively output by an optical switch is performed on the signal path at timings corresponding to the optically switched reference optical clock signal respectively output by an optical switch on the reference path, in which I and Q demodulated signals are output as a result thereof. Photodetection of the I and Q demodulated signals is then performed.

Abstract: A photonic analog to digital converter includes one or more modulators configured to receive a first optical signal and a radio frequency signal. The one or more modulators is configured to modulate the first optical signal based on the radio frequency signal. The converter also includes circuitry configured to independently quantize one or more of phase, quadrature, and amplitude coordinates of the modulated signal. The circuitry provides the quantized coordinates to one or more electronic analog to digital converters.

Abstract: A wide band digital RF receiver includes an RF front end configured to convert a RF signal into an IF signal. A wide band digital receiver also includes a photonic Analog-to-Digital Converter (pADC), and a digital processor. The pADC includes a photonic sampler that phase-encodes a stream of optical pulses with the IF signal to obtain phase-encoded optical pulses, and that amplitude-encodes an identical stream of optical pulses with the IF signal to obtain amplitude-encoded optical pulses. The pADC also includes a photonic processor and an electronic quantizer. The photonic processor processes the phase-encoded optical pulses by way of an I channel and a Q channel, and processes the amplitude-encoded optical pulses by way of an amplitude channel.