MICROWAVE PHOTONIC RADARS

Seminar report submitted to

State board of Technical education, Kerala
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the diploma in

ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION

ENGINEERING

By

ANANDHU JAYAN (19201367)

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION

ENGINEERING
SNM POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE MALIANKARA
MOOTHAKUNNAM , ERNAKULAM - 683516
STATE BOARD OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION, KERALA
2021
 DEPARTMENT
OF
ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION
ENGINEERING
SNM POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE MALIANKARA

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the seminar entitled “Microwave Photonic Radars” is the
bona fide record of the seminar done by ANANDHU JAYAN in partial fulfillment
of the award of diploma in Electronics and Communication Engineering under
State Board of Technical Education , Kerala

Guided by Head of Section

Mrs. RESMI RADHAKRISHNAN Mrs. RESHMI RADHAKRISHNAN
ECE Dept. SNMPTC ECE Dept. SNMPTC

Internal examiner: External examiner:

 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

1 take this opportunity to express my deep sense of gratitude and sincere

thanks to all who helped me to present the seminar successfully.
I am greatly thankful to Er. N. Santhakumar, Principal of SNMPTC for his
support and cooperation.
I am greatly thankful to Mrs. Reshmi Radhakrishnan Head of Electronics
and Communication Engineering Department for her support, positive criticism,
valuable comments and cooperation
I am deeply indebted to my guide Mrs. Reshmi Radhakrishnan, of
Department of Electronics & Communication engineering for her excellent
guidance and support.
Finally, I thank all the faculty members of the Electronics and
Communication Engineering department, my parents and friends near and dear
ones who directly and indirectly contributed to the successful completion o f my
project.

Place:

Date:
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CHAPTER 1

INTRODUTION

RADAR, the acronym of RAdio Detection And Ranging . As the only method for all-
weather, all-time and longdistance target detection and recognition, radar has been
intensively studied since it was invented, and is considered as an essential sensor for
future intelligent society. In the past few decades, great efforts were devoted to
improving radar’s functionality, precision, and response time, of which the key is to
generate, control and process a wideband signal with high speed. Thanks to the broad
bandwidth, flat response, low loss transmission, multidimensional multiplexing,
ultrafast analog signal processing and electromagnetic interference immunity provided
by modern photonics, implementation of the radar in the optical domain can achieve
better performance in terms of resolution, coverage, and speed which would be difficult
(if not impossible) to implement using traditional, even state-of-the-art electronics. In
this tutorial, we overview the distinct features of microwave photonics and some key
microwave photonic technologies that are currently known to be attractive for radars.
System architectures and their performance that may interest the radar society are
emphasized. Emerging technologies in this area and possible future research directions
are discussed.

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CHAPTER 2

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 REFERENCE No.1

MICROWAVE PHOTONIC RADARS

By SHILONG PAN

• This tutorial firstly overviews the unique features of microwave photonics that
are attractive for radars

• Emerging technologies in this area and possible future research directions are
discussed.

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2.2 REFERENCE No.2

THE PHOTONIC RADAR: THE SITUATION TODAY AND

THE PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE

By TOMASZ BOROWSKI

• The paper presents the main objective of the idea of a photonic radar and an
example of the engineering of the first fixed photonic radar demonstrator,
designed for use in air traffic control.

• Some issues related to the production and transmission of microwave and optical
signals, as well as the frequency conversion of these signals have also been
presented.

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2.3 REFERENCE No.3

MICROWAVE PHOTONIC ARRAY RADARS

By SHILONG PAN

▪ Phased array radars have remarkable advantages over radars with single-element
antenna in terms of agility, flexibility, robustness, and reconfigurability.

▪ In this paper, we introduce a general architecture of microwave photonic array

radar systems and review the recent advancement of optical beamforming
networks

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2.4 REFERENCE No.4

HIGH-RESOLUTION AND REAL-TIME INVERSE

SYNTHETIC APERTURE IMAGING BASED ON A
BROADBAND MICROWAVE PHOTONIC RADAR

By QINGSHUI GUO

▪ A microwave photonic radar system with optical generation and de-chirping

processing of broadband linear frequency modulated continuous-wave signal is
proposed for high-resolution and real-time inverse synthetic aperture radar
(ISAR) imaging

▪ A K-band microwave photonic radar prototype is established and the ISAR

imaging feasibility is experimentally investigated. The imaging results verify that
the proposed radar works well and is hopefully to find wide applications where
high resolution and real-time radar imaging is required.

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CHAPTER 3

THE CONCEPTION OF A RADAR BASED ON THE IDEA

OF PHOTONIC SYSTEMS

The conception of a radar based on the idea of photonic systems

Radars operating in millimetre bands require efficient transmissions with the widest
possible bandwidth. Fibre optic networks used to transmit electromagnetic energy on
optical frequencies may be an example of a successful solution that overcomes some of
the difficulties in microwave signal transmission. However, the creation of such
networks requires high modulation frequencies, detection and speed of signal
transmission. As, according to the state of the art technology, the technical possibilities
of traditional solutions are practically exhausted or cause serious difficulties, it seems
that the remedy for this state of affairs may be the transmission of signals in the optical
range. It appears to be a relatively easy task with the use of fibre optic techniques. To
implement the aforementioned idea it is at least required to have:

• Optical sources of sufficient performance (e.g. mode-locked lasers)

• Optical signal modulators (e.g. optical fibre, electro-optical modulators)

• High-speed photodetectors (e.g. PIN or MSM diodes (GaAsN/GaAs)).

The idea of a photonic radar is nowhere close to the traditional radar and does not
correspond to the idea of LIDAR. The term "photonic radar" originated in the idea of
replacing all radar systems using electronic technology with photonic systems. The
photonic system consists of subsystems and elements transforming modulated signals

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from the electrical field into electromagnetic (optical) signals and vice versa. These
mainly include:

• Mode-locked lasers (MLL), distributed feedback lasers (DFB)

These devices produce laser radiation called the optical frequency comb. It assumes the
form of a spectrum consisting of a sequence of stable, evenly distributed and ultra-short
femtosecond laser pulses. The operating principles of MLL lasers are described in
numerous works. In brief, it consists in a compensation of the chromatic dispersion of
laser radiation, i.e. a compensation of the effects resulting from the interaction of light
with electrons of the medium in which this light is being propagated, as well as a
compensation of interference or geometric effects, which affect the changes in the phase
and group speed of pulses of the light propagating in this medium depending on the
optical frequency of light.

• Systems converting the electromagnetic radiation frequency. These systems are based
on the so-called optical heterodyne. Optical heterodyne is a process using the effects of
summing up the signals of modulated laser beams. The conversion systems are parts of
systems that produce optical signals, e.g., in systems that convert these signals into
electrical microwave signals.

FIG.NO 1 The Idea Of Optical Generation Of Electric Microwave Signals

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Other elements needed include the pin and MSM photodiodes, optical fibres, optical
modulators, optical phase shifters, and beam dividers through which the signals are
processed and then the required waveforms are formed to produce the radar microwave
beams and to receive the echoes, and finally obtain the electrical target information
signals. In the transmission mode, the generation of an electrical output microwave
signal is accomplished by processing an optical signal derived from the optical
heterodyning of an input signal (carried by an optical beam modulated by an input
signal) with another optical signal (also carried by another optical beam, but modulated
by a different frequency signal), called the local laser oscillator signal, in which the
signals carried by both laser beams, after summation, ensue in another modulated optical
beam, but with parameters resulting from the superposition of these beams and then, as
a result of the illumination with such a photodiode beam, an electric microwave signal
is obtained at a frequency depending on the frequency of the heterodyne product of the
input signal. This signal, when amplified, can be emitted by a conventional antenna. In
the receiving mode, the delay between the signal transmitted and received (deflected
from the target) provides the information making it is possible to determine the distance
to the target - the received echo signal modulates the laser and in the reverse process
converts it into an electric signal.

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CHAPTER 4

THE MODULATOR

In the photonic systems, microwave signals, as well as internal control

signals, are transmitted through optical beams. Modulated optical beams are produced
by direct laser modulation or by external modulation. The electro-optical modulators
based on the Pockels effect are used in the range of very high modulation speeds and
frequencies (e.g. in materials such as LiNbO3 or organic polymers). The disadvantage
of the modulators of this type - despite the fact that they reach a band of several dozen
GHz - is that they require control signals from several hundred volts to even several
dozen kilovolts. In terms of convenience, the electro-absorption modulators based on
the Franz-Keldysh effect are much easier to use. For a similar modulation band, there is
a need for only a few volts of amplitude per signal. Modulated beams are also produced
with the application of Mach-Zehnder's interferometers

FIG.NO 2. Idea of the Mach-Zehnder's fibre optic modulator interferometers

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4.1 FIBRE OPTIC MICROWAVE SIGNAL TRANSMISSION

In radars built in the traditional electronic technology, the two-way transfer

of produced and received radar signals is carried out by coaxial lines and waveguides.
Such networks are characterised by a number of imperfections, e.g. large size, weight
and cost, but also low resistance to electromagnetic interference as well as high
dispersion and low capacity.

FIG.NO 3 Idea of the fibre optic microwave signal transmission

In comparison to traditional transmission lines, the photonic networks are characterized

by smaller sizes, lower weight and costs, as well as very high resistance to
electromagnetic interference, and also very low attenuation, low dispersion and high
capacity. Photonic networks permit two-way and duplex microwave signal
transmission.

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CHAPTER 5

The PhoDIR System

Although the possibilities of producing and detecting microwave signals in

photonic systems were studied separately, i.e. on separate transmitting and receiving
devices, the implementation of the above, but in one transmitting and receiving device
has not been studied and considered until recently. Combining all photonic components
in one device is the essence of the PhoDIR (PHOtonics-based fully DIgital Radar)
system, the world's first photonic digital radar demonstrator.

FIG.NO 4. The schematic diagram of the PhoDIR system development

The information found in [1] sets out that the PhoDIR system is characterized by
excellent parameters in relation to analogous systems implemented in the traditional

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electronic technology. It has more than 10 times less pha se noise (better than 140
dBc/Hz). The heart of this system is a photonic transceiver, which produces microwave
radar signals by a single, tunable pulse laser, while the echo of the signals is received
by a photonic receiver. The PhoDIR system has been designed to work in real time. The
limit value of the frequency of the signals supported by this method depends on the
photodiode band.

FIG.NO 5. PhoDIR system block diagram

The PhoDIR and field trial tests has been presented in the joint laboratory of the
Photonic Network National Laboratory (LNRF) of CNIT and the Institute of
Communication, Information and Perception (TECIP) of the Sant'Anna School of
Excellence.

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FIG.NO 6 General view of the entire device

By eliminating the need to convert the frequency of signals (up or down), a significant
reduction in undesirable components has been achieved and, in addition, we have gained
a much higher capacity and efficiency at a level unattainable for electronic systems and
at carrier frequencies significantly above 2 GHz.

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CHAPTER 6

EVOLUTION OF PHOTONIC RADARS

Due to the fact that a radar is practically the only remote sensing device with the use of
which it is possible to carry out the imaging of distant targets, in virtually all weather
conditions, they become increasingly indispensable in various areas. Despite many
construction, system and programming efforts, the achieved parameters of radars built
in conventional electronic technology are not able to solve the problems and overcome
limitations, which de facto result from the existing electronic technology.

The PhoDIR system mentioned above - a radar implemented in the photonic technology
is an example to radically improve the parameters and performance of radars. This
system, although much smaller than the ones constructed in conventional technology, is
still quite large. Much smaller radar devices were obtained in the development of
photonic radar for use in handheld scanners

FIG.NO 7. Schematic diagram and view of a fiber-remoted radar system

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The pressure of growing expectations and needs to ensure tha t unmanned aerial
vehicles, autonomous vehicles and even mobile navigation devices can also be reliably
navigated requires the miniaturisation of radars as well. This means that radars must be
transformed into much lighter and smaller devices that consume less power and have a
much higher resolution than today.

In the view of this, the technology of monolithic microwave integrated circuits

(MMICs), produced e.g. in gallium arsenide (GaAs) and operating up to about 300 GHz,
also appears insufficient for radar imaging for small target detection. In order to achieve
high resolution it is necessary to have the highest possible bandwidth, and the bandwidth
of even 1.5 GHz are insufficient, because the resolution is limited to 10 cm.

The trend of miniaturization and development of photonic radars is illustrated by a

photonic radar built as a miniature chip on a silicon plate.

The system contained a broadband signal generator and a receiver integrated in one
chip. This solution permitted for full Ku-band imaging with a resolution of 2.7 cm and
an error value of less than 2.75 mm.

The presented method shown that signals captured by a distributed antenna array may
be successfully up converted to optical domain by the using electro -optic modulators
directly coupled with the individual antenna elements.

The method of spatially coherent up -conversion of radio-frequency (RF) waves to

optical beams, used in tomography, creates potential possibility for radar based on
signals carried by optical fibbers with only one laser source, used to feed all the
modulators.

The development of photonic radar seems to be moving in two directions - towards

radars used for precise observation of multiple targets at once (e.g. radiolocation) and
the miniaturized imaging radars for mobile applications.

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FIG.NO 8. (a) The schematic of the chip -based integrated photonic radar (MZM:
Mach-Zehnder modulator; MRR: micro-ring resonator; PD: photodetector; (b) The
picture of the of the chip -based integrated photonic radar (paper clip as paper clip as
referenz scale), (c) zoom-in view of the photonic radar chip.

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CHAPTER 7

CONCLUSIONS

Microwave photonics is a field of technology synergising several disciplines such as:

optics, microwave engineering, electronics, optoelectronics, computer science and
material engineering. Building a photonic radar requires a team of experts experienced
in these disciplines. Among the numerous issues related to the implementation of the
photonic radar project, the key issues are the production and transmission of signals,
both in the microwave and optical range, as well as the frequency conversion of these
signals. The photonic techniques make it possible to process and transmit signals in an
ultra-wide band, which is practically impossible in conventional electronic technology.

The operations impossible to carry out in the electronic microwave systems in the radio
frequency range are made possible in the PhoDIR system.

In conclusion, the parameters of photonic radars may significantly exceed the

parameters of radars implemented in the conventional electronic technology. A clear
example of the superiority of photonic technology is the problem-free implementation
of ultra-fast sampling (in the traditional technology only up to about 1 GHz, and
photonic technology up to several THz) as well as the fact that photonic solutions do
not encounter problems associated with rapid synchronization of signals.

The main features of a photonic radar include the lack of electric microwave oscillators,
an easy production of microwave signals by using the optoelectronic oscillators, very
high stability and tenability (up to several dozens of GHz).

Achieving a very high degree of distance differentiation has been gained due to the wide
band and the speed of the generators' tuning. Another great advantage of photonic

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solutions in radars is a very low heat signature. The superiority of a photonic radar over
electronic radar is also reflected in a much greater resistance of the photonic system to
interference. Photonic solutions thus eliminate the electronic systems susceptible to
interference.

Due to the fact that the photonic radar signals of microwave frequencies are not sent by
classical transmission lines but by fibre optic networks, these signals are not subject to
serious destruction. An additional benefit is the possibility of bidirectional transmission
of information and carrier. The great advantage of photonic systems is their resistance
to electromagnetic pulse (HPEM). Photonics opens up new possibilities for
radiolocation. The USA saw about 35 patent applications registered in this area,
including one in 2017

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CHAPTER 7

REFERENCES

[1] M. Skolnik, Radar Handbook, 3rd ed. USA: McGraw-Hill, 2008.

[2] J. Capmany and D. Novak, “Microwave photonics combines two worlds,” Nature
Photon., vol. 1, no. 6, pp. 319–330, Jun. 2007.

[3] J. Yao, “Microwave photonics,” J. Lightw. Technol., vol. 27, no. 3, pp. 314 –335,
Feb. 2009.

[4] S. Pan, D. Zhu, and F. Zhang, “Microwave photonics for modern radar systems,”
Trans. Nanjing Univ. Aeronaut. Astronaut., vol. 31, no. 3, pp. 219–240, Jun. 2014.

[5] A. Seeds and K. Williams, “Microwave photonics,” J. Lightw. Technol., vol. 24,
no. 12, pp. 4628–4641, Dec. 2006.

[6] V. Urick, K. Williams, and J. McKinney, Fundamentals of Microwave Photonics.

USA: John Wiley & Sons, 2015.

[7] A. Marpaung, C. Roeloffzen, R. Heideman, A. Leinse, S. Sales, and J. Capmany,

“Integrated microwave photonics,” Laser Photon. Rev., vol. 7, no. 4, pp. 506 –538, Jan.
2013.

[8] X. Yao and L. Maleki, “Optoelectronic oscillator for photonic systems,” IEEE J.
Quantum Electron., vol. 32, no. 7, pp. 1141–1149, July 1996.

[9] J. Yao, “Arbitrary waveform generation,” Nature Photon., vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 79 –80,
Feb. 2010.

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