High-Power, Multimode Fiber-Optic Receiver for Mil-Aero Environment

In this effort, PSI will develop a high-frequency 1550 nm photoreceiver based on a modified uni-traveling carrier (MUTC) photodetector coupled to a multimode fiber (MMF). The module will be optimized to demonstrate photocurrent stability of less than ±5% with varying modal input profile and bandwidth greater than 12 GHz using a photodetector with sub-35 µm diameter. The optical coupling methodology developed to achieve good efficiency and performance stability will be combined with a technical reevaluation of the internal RF network including integrated bias tee. To supplement this engineering effort, the University of Virginia (UVA) will be subcontracted to investigate novel photodetector structures designed for improved MMF coupling. These parallel tasks will converge within the Phase I option period of the effort and be presented to the sponsor in the context of extending multimode receiver bandwidth to 50 GHz within the Phase II.