Abstract: A system for extracting the complex Fourier coefficients from an unknown RF signal to classify the RF signal is disclosed. The extraction system utilizes optical signal processing in combination with the generation of electronic timing and control signals. The system employs an optical processor comprising a Bragg cell to yield the Fourier coefficients including the amplitude, phase and frequency parameters thereof. The system further includes a parallel arrangement that provide for parallel processing to reduce the computational time needed to determine the complex Fourier coefficients including the amplitude, phase and frequency parameters thereof.

Abstract: An optical downconverter with very wide bandwidth operable to separately ically downconvert individual spectrum sections of an RF spectrum, comprising the steps of modulating an optical carrier with the RF spectral width to be downconverted, spatially separating via optical gratings the different sections of the spectrum of the optical carrier sidebands into a plurality of optical channels, generating a different phase-coherent optical local oscillator signal for each optical channel at an appropriate frequency such that the difference between the LO frequency and the particular spectrum section on the given optical channel is equal to a predetermined difference frequency; and mixing each optical channel with its appropriate frequency L.O. and detecting the difference frequency resulting therefrom.