From digital user to analog airwaves and back

This presentation provides an overview of photonic technologies for microwave sensing, transmission, processing, and generation that typically centers on the antenna front end. In this paper illustrate the typical components and subsystems that link the airwaves to the digital user. Actual front-ends may function as a transmitter, a receiver, or both. Modular functionalities include: local oscillator (LO), digital to analog converter (DAC), DeltaPhi/DeltaA phase and amplitude control (beamforming), high power amplifier (HPA), low noise amplifier (LNA), mixer <8>, analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and digital pre and post-conditioning circuits (DT and DR). Photonic technologies and their forward-looking challenges discussed here will include: high-fidelity links, circulators, low phase noise RF oscillators, ADCs, electro-magnetic pulse survivability, integrated circuits, analog signal processing, and antenna elements.