Description du projet
Développement d’un nouveau schéma de conversion photonique analogique-numérique
Les TIC modernes font progresser la demande de bandes passantes de spectre de signaux de centaines de GHz et même de 1 THz. Pour obtenir un traitement du signal numérique ultra-rapide et flexible, les signaux analogiques à large bande doivent être convertis en un flux de bits de données via une conversion analogique-numérique (CAN ou ADC pour analogue-to-digital conversion). Les fluctuations aléatoires des électrons dans les semi-conducteurs limitent toutefois les performances des CAN électroniques. Le projet CompADC financé par l’UE vise à développer un nouveau schéma ADC photonique utilisant des peignes à double fréquence optique à l’échelle de la puce. Cela permettra de numériser en temps réel des signaux radiofréquences et hyperfréquences ultra-large bande avec une bande passante de plus de 100 GHz. La nouvelle technologie permettra des performances inégalées et une intégration à l’échelle de la puce pour les applications modernes de traitement du signal et de communication ultra-large bande.
Objectif
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.
Champ scientifique
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringanalogue electronics
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsignal processing
- natural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicssemiconductivity
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physics
Mots‑clés
Programme(s)
Régime de financement
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinateur
1015 Lausanne
Suisse