Project description
Developing a novel photonic analogue-to-digital conversion scheme
Modern ICT advances demand signal spectrum bandwidths of hundreds of GHz and even 1 THz. For ultra-fast and flexible digital signal processing, wideband analogue signals must be converted to a stream of data bits via analogue-to-digital conversion (ADC). However, the random electron fluctuations in semiconductors restrict the performance of electronic ADCs. The EU-funded CompADC project aims to develop a novel photonic ADC scheme using chip-scale dual optical frequency combs. This will enable the real-time digitisation of ultra-wideband radio frequency and microwave signals with a bandwidth of more than 100 GHz. The new technology will offer unequalled performance and chip-scale integration for modern ultra-wideband signal processing and communication applications.
Objective
Modern information and communication technology has been propelling the rapid expansion of signal spectrum bandwidth towards the level of hundreds of GHz and even 1 Terahertz. Such wideband analog signals produced in physical world must be converted to a stream of data bits via analog-to-digital conversion (ADC), for ultra-fast and flexible digital signal processing (DSP). However, the random electron fluctuations in semiconductors set a fundamental limitation on the performance of electronic (ADCs), leading to an inherent trade-off between the sampling accuracy and bandwidth. State-of-the-art electronic ADCs typically have only GHz-level analog bandwidth, which is becoming an increasingly severe limitation on high-speed DSP applications. Although the adoption of mode-locked lasers (MLLs) can overcome some limitations using the ultra-stable pulse train for precise time-domain sampling, the GHz-level repetition rate and the challenging integration of MLLs prevents any usability of photonics-assisted ADC in practical applications. In the CompADC project, I propose to develop a radically-new photonic ADC scheme using chip-scale dual optical frequency combs, enabling real-time digitization of ultra-wideband RF and microwave signals with a bandwidth of > 100 GHz. This envisaged performance is enabled by the emerging dissipative Kerr soliton (DKS) microcombs generated in SiN microresonators, which produces a new type of on-chip mode-locked emission of optical pulses with repetition rates exceeding 100 GH. These phase-locked dual microcombs (signal comb and local oscillator comb) will perform precise frequency-domain decomposition and parallel frequency down-conversion of ultra-wideband microwave signals to the detectable range of lower-speed electronics. This CompADC approach has the clear potential to offer unparalleled performance and chip-scale integration for modern ultra-wideband signal processing and communication applications.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering analogue electronics
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering signal processing
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics semiconductivity
- natural sciences physical sciences optics laser physics
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1015 LAUSANNE
Switzerland
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.