rus
Issue #4/2021
A. A. Kim, A. D. Gubarev
Modern Microwave Photonics in Russia: Report From the Scientific-Practical Conference “Microwave Photonics” in the Framework of the Congress of the Photonics Russian Technological Platform
Modern Microwave Photonics in Russia: Report From the Scientific-Practical Conference “Microwave Photonics” in the Framework of the Congress of the Photonics Russian Technological Platform
DOI: 10.22184/1993-7296.FRos.2021.15.4.324.332
The XV International specialized exhibition of laser, optical and optoelectronic equipment “Photonics. World of Lasers and Optics” took part from March 30 till April 2. The exhibition became an anniversary in 2021. Unfortunately, the exhibition was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic. Traditionally, this is important event for the high-tech industry in the field of photonics, optics and laser technologies, where manufacturers of specialized equipment and optical components from different countries are represented. Also meetings of thematic sections of an extensive business program are held, at which speakers from leading Russian research and production enterprises present the advanced results of their activities.
The XV International specialized exhibition of laser, optical and optoelectronic equipment “Photonics. World of Lasers and Optics” took part from March 30 till April 2. The exhibition became an anniversary in 2021. Unfortunately, the exhibition was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic. Traditionally, this is important event for the high-tech industry in the field of photonics, optics and laser technologies, where manufacturers of specialized equipment and optical components from different countries are represented. Also meetings of thematic sections of an extensive business program are held, at which speakers from leading Russian research and production enterprises present the advanced results of their activities.
Теги: conference microwave photonics microwave photonics in russia review конференция обзор радиофотоника радиофотоника в россии
Modern Microwave Photonics in Russia: Report From the Scientific-Practical Conference “Microwave Photonics” in the Framework of the Congress of the Photonics Russian Technological Platform
A. A. Kim , A. D. Gubarev
Laser Systems LLC, St. Petersburg, Russia
BSTU “VOENMEH” named after D. F. Ustinov, St. Petersburg, Russia
The XV International specialized exhibition of laser, optical and optoelectronic equipment “Photonics. World of Lasers and Optics” took part from March 30 till April 2. The exhibition became an anniversary in 2021. Unfortunately, the exhibition was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic. Traditionally, this is important event for the high-tech industry in the field of photonics, optics and laser technologies, where manufacturers of specialized equipment and optical components from different countries are represented. Also meetings of thematic sections of an extensive business program are held, at which speakers from leading Russian research and production enterprises present the advanced results of their activities.
Keywords: microwave photonics, conference, review, microwave photonics in Russia
Received on: 15.04.2021
Accepted on: 19.05.2021
This year,within the framework of the traditional Congress of the Photonics Russian technological platform, 13 scientific and practical conferences were held on promising directions for the development of photonics in the Russian Federation, one of which, chaired by V. V. Valuev (STC Module CJSC), focused on discussing actual achievements, prospects and problems of the modern direction of microwave photonics in Russia.
The scientific and technical direction of radio photonics (microwave photonics) is based on the principles of microwave modulation of optical radiation by an electric signal in media with an electro-optical effect. LiNbO3 structures are one of the most common platforms for the elemental base of microwave photonics. Today, the leading domestic manufacturer of serial products based on lithium niobate technologies is the Perm Scientific and Production Instrument Making Company (PNPPK PJSC), which with its report “Electro-optical components based on lithium niobate technologies for use in radio photonics and measurement of electrical quantities” represented by Anton Zhuravlev, head of the laboratory of microwave photonic components of PNPPK PJSC. Among other things, to date, mass production of amplitude modulators in a sealed design with a bandwidth of up to 41 GHz has been mastered, work is underway to create a phase modulator (Fig.1).
In parallel, work is underway to create sensors for electrical quantities based on integrated optics technologies, which have the widest range of possible applications: from measuring equipment to sensitive elements of microwave photon locators (Fig.2).
Within the framework of the discussion of the presented report, particular interest was aroused by the prospects for the development of integrated photonics in the aspect of creating more complex devices and integrated optical circuits on a single substrate. However, it should be noted that the domestic market for the main components of microwave photonics is conservative and limited. Unfortunately, new high-tech serial products are not yet supported by high demand.
Nevertheless, there is reason to believe that this promising direction will be developed in the field of integral photonics in the coming years, and will also be supported by increasing market demand.
In the report of Victor Petrov (ITMO University) “Technologies of Microwave photonics in Quantum Information Systems” were presented the interim results of the joint work of ITMO University and A. F. Ioffe PTI. The report was about some possible applications of radio photonics elements and about the development of an electro-optical modulator for use in problems of quantum communications and cryptography. In particular, such modulators are necessary for the distribution of a quantum key at side frequencies during high-frequency modulation of an optical carrier. The high efficiency of the developed modulator in transferring energy to side frequencies makes it possible to implement a generator of higher optical harmonics – a generator of the so-called optical comb and broadband quantum noise generator. For these purposes, a balanced InP-based photodetector with a bandwidth of up to 4GHz was developed (Fig.3).
The development of modulators that reverse polarization and modulators with paired outputs with orthogonal polarization of the optical signal are noted as a promising direction.
The report of a team of authors from SPb ETU “LETI”, presented by Alexey Ustinov, was devoted to the development of a tunable low-noise optoelectronic microwave generator – another promising direction of radio photonics (Fig.4). Microwave generators are one of the key elements of communication systems, navigation, radar and many measuring systems, and the properties of all systems based on them largely depend on the stability of their characteristics. Improving the performance of systems requires reducing the phase noise of the master oscillators and increasing their frequency stability. In this aspect, optoelectronic master oscillators are potentially capable of providing qualitatively higher performance.
To date, the optoelectronic microwave generator developed by the collective, among all those described in the world literature, has the lowest phase noise level approaching –160dB / Hz at a frequency offset of 10 kHz at a generation frequency near 6 GHz. The generator with a frequency of about 10,5 GHz was the third in the list of the lowest noise optoelectronic generators, second only to the development of FEMTO-S from France.
In his report “Multi-band systems for remote sensing of the atmosphere using radio photonics elements”, representing the company Laser Systems, St. Petersburg, Alexey Kim spoke about a promising direction of integration of optical and radio frequency sounding subsystems at the physical level by using the element base and circuitry solutions of radio photonics. Remote sensing of the atmosphere for the purpose of measuring the dynamic characteristics of air masses and constructing dynamic profiles and wind fields is traditionally carried out in radio frequency and optical frequency ranges by coherent echolocation methods (Fig.5). Each of the frequency ranges of sensing has its own advantages and disadvantages, however, the integration of at least three frequency ranges (X, Ka and IR) makes it possible to obtain a system that is unique in its aggregate performance both in terms of high information content and efficiency, and in terms of ensuring operability in all weather conditions. The integration of several independent subsystems at the upper level of software signal processing is fraught with many technical and technological difficulties and in the future is a dead-end direction. However, microwave photonics makes it possible to integrate subsystems already at the physical level. For example, a highly coherent laser, which is the basis of a lidar measuring channel, can serve as a source of radiation for a tunable microwave optoelectronic master oscillator in the X, Ku, and Ka bands, while providing the highest phase stability and coherent detection mode. On the other hand, optical reception of a radio frequency signal can also be realized using radio photonics methods, which will significantly optimize the composition of a multi-band system by processing signals transferred to an optical carrier using a single software and hardware complex.
Thus, multi-band systems for remote sensing of the atmosphere are a promising area and a potential consumer of technologies and elemental base of radio photonics.
Ivan Vasilievsky, representing a team of authors from NRNU MEPhI and SRI Polyus, Moscow, was devoted to the development of the technology for creating an X-band modulator based on indium phosphide. The A3B5 platform, to which the InP material belongs, is in the world practice one of the key platforms in the production of integrated radio photonics components. The team’s work is aimed at mastering a new promising platform. The development of a modulator on a new platform turns out to be a complex task, the solution of which begins with the modeling of a material – a multilayer heterostructure and modulator topology. The next stages are development of growth technology, post-growth processing, packaging and measurement of output characteristics. At the moment, it is announced that a scientific and technical groundwork has been created for the development of integrated approaches to the creation of integrated microwave photonics on the InP platform, modeling of layers of heterostructures, optical and microwave subsystems has been worked out, technologies of precision lithography have been developed in cooperation with M. F. Stelmakh SRI Polyus JSC, and approaches are also being developed to improve the parameters of modulators: to increase the modulation bandwidth to 25 GHz, reduce optical losses, etc.
The report by Andrey Ivanov from M. F. Stelmakh SRI Polyus JSC was devoted to R&D development: the serial development of a powerful laser with distributed feedback with a wavelength of 1550 nm (Fig.6). At present, the serial production of high-power frequency-multimode lasers based on a Fabry-Perot resonator and photodetector modules, providing a bandwidth of up to 10–12 GHz, has already been mastered. Nevertheless, the report notes that the modern element base of radio photonics and circuitry solutions in most cases are designed for the use of single-frequency DFB lasers at 1.55 μm, while the issue of increasing the optical power is quite urgent.
As a result, a POC laser was developed in a standard Butterfly package and fiber output (standard fiber, fiber with polarization retention), which has a threshold lasing current of about 100 mA and an optical output power of 50 mW at a pumping current of 500 mA. The generation line width at 50 mW was no more than 200–300 kHz, and RIN = –150 dB / Hz. The report was continued by the presentation of the developed photodetector module with an input power of more than 50 mW and a bandwidth from 0.1 to 12 GHz. Spectral sensitivity in the range: 0.9–1.6μm varies within 0.75–1A / W (Fig. 7).
It is noted that the production of a high-power DFB laser at 1.55 µm and a photodetector module has been mastered in series.
Professor R. S. Starikov of NRNU MEPhI made a report on the topic “Analog-digital photonic devices for radio engineering systems”. In his report, he highlighted a number of foreign and Russian studies in the field of constructing microwave photon transmission paths. The characteristics of analog paths with a digital output were demonstrated and the capabilities of modern analog-to-digital converters were shown. Based on this, the main factors limiting the possibilities of analog-to-digital conversion were formulated.
The most important area of analog-to-digital conversion is considered to be the development and implementation of photonic ADCs. In optics, it is possible to digitize a signal at a speed of 10 Tb / s. and also to obtain high digitization accuracy due to the fact that optical sources have low phase noise. In confirmation of the above, Starikov R. S. showed examples of several research papers on this topic. So, at present, a number of advanced directions have been outlined in attempts to create an all-optical device for analog-to-digital conversion without the use of electronic conversions. Also an important area of research activity is the development of intelligent methods for processing the output signals of photonic analog-digital devices, such as neural network methods. As R. S. Starikov noted, the mode-locked lasers are the heart of any optical analog-to-digital conversion system, so special attention should be paid to their improvement.
In Russia, work on the creation of analog-to-digital photonic devices for radio engineering systems was carried out on the basis of the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI and ended with the manufacture of a system that includes a two-channel photonic analog-to-digital converter.
Conclusion
Based on the reports presented at the scientific-practical conference “Microwave photonics”, held within the framework of the Congress of the Russian technological platform “Photonics”, the impression was formed that over the past few years the direction of microwave photonics in Russia has not undergone major changes and breakthrough leaps, but interest in it is systematic increases. Unfortunately, no reports were presented at the conference by teams from OKB-Planeta JSC, TUSUR, NPF Mikran JSC, IPP SB RAS and other organizations, so the picture turned out to be incomplete.
New developments, new components, technological and technical solutions were presented, but we have to admit that many of them correspond to the level of foreign developments 5–10 years ago. The slow development of the industry, as well as the correspondingly low growth rates of the high-tech market in the field of microwave photonics, is a complex task that does not have an obvious and simple solution. It is partly due to the traditional conservatism of the domestic market, partly due to the current political and economic situation. In such conditions, the technical and technological lag behind the West in this area may turn out to be insurmountable in the coming decades. It is obvious that such a complex task should be solved not only by the research and production community. Without effective administrative support measures aimed at developing the market, large government orders for complex science-intensive high-tech projects in the field of radio photonics, one can expect an increase in technological lag. In addition to the development of the domestic and foreign markets, it also requires an increase in the level of competencies, deepening and expansion of integration in the research and production community itself. As part of this aspect, it is required to create unified multidisciplinary design centers equipped with the latest technology and possessing a wide range of competencies in the field of microwave technology, growth technologies, waveguide optics, semiconductors, etc. These and other comprehensive measures should ensure the sustainable development of the direction of microwave photonics in Russia.
AUTHORS
Alexey A. Kim, Cand. of the Tech. Sc.., BSTU «VOENMEH» named after D. F. Ustinov, Laser Systems LLC, St. Petersburg, Russia.
ORCID: 0000-0002-8923-2953
Alexey D. Gubarev, BSTU «VOENMEH» named after D. F. Ustinov, Laser Systems LLC, St. Petersburg, Russia.
ORCID: 0000-0002-4128-085X
A. A. Kim , A. D. Gubarev
Laser Systems LLC, St. Petersburg, Russia
BSTU “VOENMEH” named after D. F. Ustinov, St. Petersburg, Russia
The XV International specialized exhibition of laser, optical and optoelectronic equipment “Photonics. World of Lasers and Optics” took part from March 30 till April 2. The exhibition became an anniversary in 2021. Unfortunately, the exhibition was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic. Traditionally, this is important event for the high-tech industry in the field of photonics, optics and laser technologies, where manufacturers of specialized equipment and optical components from different countries are represented. Also meetings of thematic sections of an extensive business program are held, at which speakers from leading Russian research and production enterprises present the advanced results of their activities.
Keywords: microwave photonics, conference, review, microwave photonics in Russia
Received on: 15.04.2021
Accepted on: 19.05.2021
This year,within the framework of the traditional Congress of the Photonics Russian technological platform, 13 scientific and practical conferences were held on promising directions for the development of photonics in the Russian Federation, one of which, chaired by V. V. Valuev (STC Module CJSC), focused on discussing actual achievements, prospects and problems of the modern direction of microwave photonics in Russia.
The scientific and technical direction of radio photonics (microwave photonics) is based on the principles of microwave modulation of optical radiation by an electric signal in media with an electro-optical effect. LiNbO3 structures are one of the most common platforms for the elemental base of microwave photonics. Today, the leading domestic manufacturer of serial products based on lithium niobate technologies is the Perm Scientific and Production Instrument Making Company (PNPPK PJSC), which with its report “Electro-optical components based on lithium niobate technologies for use in radio photonics and measurement of electrical quantities” represented by Anton Zhuravlev, head of the laboratory of microwave photonic components of PNPPK PJSC. Among other things, to date, mass production of amplitude modulators in a sealed design with a bandwidth of up to 41 GHz has been mastered, work is underway to create a phase modulator (Fig.1).
In parallel, work is underway to create sensors for electrical quantities based on integrated optics technologies, which have the widest range of possible applications: from measuring equipment to sensitive elements of microwave photon locators (Fig.2).
Within the framework of the discussion of the presented report, particular interest was aroused by the prospects for the development of integrated photonics in the aspect of creating more complex devices and integrated optical circuits on a single substrate. However, it should be noted that the domestic market for the main components of microwave photonics is conservative and limited. Unfortunately, new high-tech serial products are not yet supported by high demand.
Nevertheless, there is reason to believe that this promising direction will be developed in the field of integral photonics in the coming years, and will also be supported by increasing market demand.
In the report of Victor Petrov (ITMO University) “Technologies of Microwave photonics in Quantum Information Systems” were presented the interim results of the joint work of ITMO University and A. F. Ioffe PTI. The report was about some possible applications of radio photonics elements and about the development of an electro-optical modulator for use in problems of quantum communications and cryptography. In particular, such modulators are necessary for the distribution of a quantum key at side frequencies during high-frequency modulation of an optical carrier. The high efficiency of the developed modulator in transferring energy to side frequencies makes it possible to implement a generator of higher optical harmonics – a generator of the so-called optical comb and broadband quantum noise generator. For these purposes, a balanced InP-based photodetector with a bandwidth of up to 4GHz was developed (Fig.3).
The development of modulators that reverse polarization and modulators with paired outputs with orthogonal polarization of the optical signal are noted as a promising direction.
The report of a team of authors from SPb ETU “LETI”, presented by Alexey Ustinov, was devoted to the development of a tunable low-noise optoelectronic microwave generator – another promising direction of radio photonics (Fig.4). Microwave generators are one of the key elements of communication systems, navigation, radar and many measuring systems, and the properties of all systems based on them largely depend on the stability of their characteristics. Improving the performance of systems requires reducing the phase noise of the master oscillators and increasing their frequency stability. In this aspect, optoelectronic master oscillators are potentially capable of providing qualitatively higher performance.
To date, the optoelectronic microwave generator developed by the collective, among all those described in the world literature, has the lowest phase noise level approaching –160dB / Hz at a frequency offset of 10 kHz at a generation frequency near 6 GHz. The generator with a frequency of about 10,5 GHz was the third in the list of the lowest noise optoelectronic generators, second only to the development of FEMTO-S from France.
In his report “Multi-band systems for remote sensing of the atmosphere using radio photonics elements”, representing the company Laser Systems, St. Petersburg, Alexey Kim spoke about a promising direction of integration of optical and radio frequency sounding subsystems at the physical level by using the element base and circuitry solutions of radio photonics. Remote sensing of the atmosphere for the purpose of measuring the dynamic characteristics of air masses and constructing dynamic profiles and wind fields is traditionally carried out in radio frequency and optical frequency ranges by coherent echolocation methods (Fig.5). Each of the frequency ranges of sensing has its own advantages and disadvantages, however, the integration of at least three frequency ranges (X, Ka and IR) makes it possible to obtain a system that is unique in its aggregate performance both in terms of high information content and efficiency, and in terms of ensuring operability in all weather conditions. The integration of several independent subsystems at the upper level of software signal processing is fraught with many technical and technological difficulties and in the future is a dead-end direction. However, microwave photonics makes it possible to integrate subsystems already at the physical level. For example, a highly coherent laser, which is the basis of a lidar measuring channel, can serve as a source of radiation for a tunable microwave optoelectronic master oscillator in the X, Ku, and Ka bands, while providing the highest phase stability and coherent detection mode. On the other hand, optical reception of a radio frequency signal can also be realized using radio photonics methods, which will significantly optimize the composition of a multi-band system by processing signals transferred to an optical carrier using a single software and hardware complex.
Thus, multi-band systems for remote sensing of the atmosphere are a promising area and a potential consumer of technologies and elemental base of radio photonics.
Ivan Vasilievsky, representing a team of authors from NRNU MEPhI and SRI Polyus, Moscow, was devoted to the development of the technology for creating an X-band modulator based on indium phosphide. The A3B5 platform, to which the InP material belongs, is in the world practice one of the key platforms in the production of integrated radio photonics components. The team’s work is aimed at mastering a new promising platform. The development of a modulator on a new platform turns out to be a complex task, the solution of which begins with the modeling of a material – a multilayer heterostructure and modulator topology. The next stages are development of growth technology, post-growth processing, packaging and measurement of output characteristics. At the moment, it is announced that a scientific and technical groundwork has been created for the development of integrated approaches to the creation of integrated microwave photonics on the InP platform, modeling of layers of heterostructures, optical and microwave subsystems has been worked out, technologies of precision lithography have been developed in cooperation with M. F. Stelmakh SRI Polyus JSC, and approaches are also being developed to improve the parameters of modulators: to increase the modulation bandwidth to 25 GHz, reduce optical losses, etc.
The report by Andrey Ivanov from M. F. Stelmakh SRI Polyus JSC was devoted to R&D development: the serial development of a powerful laser with distributed feedback with a wavelength of 1550 nm (Fig.6). At present, the serial production of high-power frequency-multimode lasers based on a Fabry-Perot resonator and photodetector modules, providing a bandwidth of up to 10–12 GHz, has already been mastered. Nevertheless, the report notes that the modern element base of radio photonics and circuitry solutions in most cases are designed for the use of single-frequency DFB lasers at 1.55 μm, while the issue of increasing the optical power is quite urgent.
As a result, a POC laser was developed in a standard Butterfly package and fiber output (standard fiber, fiber with polarization retention), which has a threshold lasing current of about 100 mA and an optical output power of 50 mW at a pumping current of 500 mA. The generation line width at 50 mW was no more than 200–300 kHz, and RIN = –150 dB / Hz. The report was continued by the presentation of the developed photodetector module with an input power of more than 50 mW and a bandwidth from 0.1 to 12 GHz. Spectral sensitivity in the range: 0.9–1.6μm varies within 0.75–1A / W (Fig. 7).
It is noted that the production of a high-power DFB laser at 1.55 µm and a photodetector module has been mastered in series.
Professor R. S. Starikov of NRNU MEPhI made a report on the topic “Analog-digital photonic devices for radio engineering systems”. In his report, he highlighted a number of foreign and Russian studies in the field of constructing microwave photon transmission paths. The characteristics of analog paths with a digital output were demonstrated and the capabilities of modern analog-to-digital converters were shown. Based on this, the main factors limiting the possibilities of analog-to-digital conversion were formulated.
The most important area of analog-to-digital conversion is considered to be the development and implementation of photonic ADCs. In optics, it is possible to digitize a signal at a speed of 10 Tb / s. and also to obtain high digitization accuracy due to the fact that optical sources have low phase noise. In confirmation of the above, Starikov R. S. showed examples of several research papers on this topic. So, at present, a number of advanced directions have been outlined in attempts to create an all-optical device for analog-to-digital conversion without the use of electronic conversions. Also an important area of research activity is the development of intelligent methods for processing the output signals of photonic analog-digital devices, such as neural network methods. As R. S. Starikov noted, the mode-locked lasers are the heart of any optical analog-to-digital conversion system, so special attention should be paid to their improvement.
In Russia, work on the creation of analog-to-digital photonic devices for radio engineering systems was carried out on the basis of the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI and ended with the manufacture of a system that includes a two-channel photonic analog-to-digital converter.
Conclusion
Based on the reports presented at the scientific-practical conference “Microwave photonics”, held within the framework of the Congress of the Russian technological platform “Photonics”, the impression was formed that over the past few years the direction of microwave photonics in Russia has not undergone major changes and breakthrough leaps, but interest in it is systematic increases. Unfortunately, no reports were presented at the conference by teams from OKB-Planeta JSC, TUSUR, NPF Mikran JSC, IPP SB RAS and other organizations, so the picture turned out to be incomplete.
New developments, new components, technological and technical solutions were presented, but we have to admit that many of them correspond to the level of foreign developments 5–10 years ago. The slow development of the industry, as well as the correspondingly low growth rates of the high-tech market in the field of microwave photonics, is a complex task that does not have an obvious and simple solution. It is partly due to the traditional conservatism of the domestic market, partly due to the current political and economic situation. In such conditions, the technical and technological lag behind the West in this area may turn out to be insurmountable in the coming decades. It is obvious that such a complex task should be solved not only by the research and production community. Without effective administrative support measures aimed at developing the market, large government orders for complex science-intensive high-tech projects in the field of radio photonics, one can expect an increase in technological lag. In addition to the development of the domestic and foreign markets, it also requires an increase in the level of competencies, deepening and expansion of integration in the research and production community itself. As part of this aspect, it is required to create unified multidisciplinary design centers equipped with the latest technology and possessing a wide range of competencies in the field of microwave technology, growth technologies, waveguide optics, semiconductors, etc. These and other comprehensive measures should ensure the sustainable development of the direction of microwave photonics in Russia.
AUTHORS
Alexey A. Kim, Cand. of the Tech. Sc.., BSTU «VOENMEH» named after D. F. Ustinov, Laser Systems LLC, St. Petersburg, Russia.
ORCID: 0000-0002-8923-2953
Alexey D. Gubarev, BSTU «VOENMEH» named after D. F. Ustinov, Laser Systems LLC, St. Petersburg, Russia.
ORCID: 0000-0002-4128-085X
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