Analog optical processing of radio frequency signals

An approach to optical processing of complex electronic systems operating on multiple radio frequency (or microwave) signals is presented. The approach is aimed at exploiting linear and nonlinear optics to synthesize transponders and receiving systems for satellites and other platforms. Emphasis is placed on the architecture of electronic functions for optical component realization. These elements perform the signal processing operations of AM, PM, and FM carrier modulation and demodulation; phase locked loop signal tracking; carrier element mixing; signal filtering; and signal matched filter detection. Analog optical processing techniques are capable of performing Fourier transforms readily. A second spatial dimension is available for parallel processing such as exhaustive search of signal space for signals and parameters of interest. The optical processors provide wide bandwidth, high carrier frequency capability, and fast response.