Application Of Electro-Optic Technology To BMD Radars And Data Processors

Warren D. Dickinson

doi:10.1117/12.955983

28 December 1977 Application Of Electro-Optic Technology To BMD Radars And Data Processors

Warren D. Dickinson

Proceedings Volume 0128, Effective Utilization of Optics in Radar Systems; (1977) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.955983
Event: Effect Utilization of Optics in Radar Systems, 1977, Huntsville, United States

Abstract

Electra-optic technology appears to offer some rather dramatic payoffs to the ballistic missile defense (BMD) radar systems designer. At the current time, however, we are not able to evaluate the magnitude of the potential payoff or even to determine the functions for which electro-optic technology is most applicable. Uncertainties stem from the still embryonic status of coherent optical processing and from the limited number of BMD applications studies. Radar signal processing, the matched filtering of complex waveforms, has received the lion's share of BMD funding for electro-optic processing. The presumption is that an electro-optic processor would replace either a digital or a surface wave signal processor and would offer advantages in cost, weight, or waveform processing capability. The characteristics of coherent optical processors which make them seem most attractive are as follows: (1) Ability to store about one million words of data on a few square inches of surface area, (2) Ability to transform data cheaply by using lenses, (3) Ability to adaptively manipulate data based upon reference functions stored in electro-optic devices. Doubts about electro-optic processors seem to occur primarily in the following areas: (1) Dynamic range seems to be limited to about 40 dB for straightforward intensity storage, and (2) Available electro-optic storage devices/ modulators are generally limited to cycling rates not greatly in excess of 30 cycles per second.

Citation Download Citation

Warren D. Dickinson "Application Of Electro-Optic Technology To BMD Radars And Data Processors", Proc. SPIE 0128, Effective Utilization of Optics in Radar Systems, (28 December 1977); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.955983

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KEYWORDS

Radar

Signal processing

Electro optics

Data processing

Antennas

Radar signal processing

Filtering (signal processing)

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