Some more info about ROFAR
Photonics: from the laser to the “radar sight”
By Rostec
In place of optics and electronics
Photonics – the science of generating, managing and detecting photons (elementary particles, photons of electromagnetic radiation that can exist in a vacuum, but moving at the speed of light), and the physics and technology related to the use of photons.
In other words, photonics deals with the control and conversion of optical signals from transmitting information through optical fibers to create new sensors which modulate light signals. Some sources say that the terms “fiber” and “electronics” are gradually replaced by a generalized name – “photonics”.
Photons, unlike electrons, have no mass and charge. Therefore photonic system not affected by external electromagnetic fields, and have a much greater transmission distance, and bandwidth of signal.
The first important technical device using photons laser was invented in the 1960’s. In the 1980s, after the world began to be widely used fiber-optic transmission, has been extended and the term “photonics”. Until the end of the XX century photonics has largely been focused on telecommunications. In particular, it became the basis for the development of the Internet.
Today to replace the “telecommunications” photonics comes radiofotonika. This new direction emerged at the intersection of radio-wave optics, microwave optoelectronics and other branches of science and industry. Radiofotonika engaged in the transmission of information using electromagnetic waves of microwave and photonic devices and systems that can create RF devices with parameters unattainable for conventional electronics.
Achievements and prospects of domestic photonics
Russian School of Photonics is considered one of the best in the world. Suffice it to recall the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1964, which was awarded to Alexander Prokhorov and Nikolai Basov for research leading to the creation of the laser. Or the development of optoelectronics Zhores Alferov, awarded the same award in 2000.
Yielding to western countries lead in the field of microelectronics, Russia plans to beat the competition in another area – in radiofotonike and defense technologies based on it. Domestic scientists believe that today it is possible to completely give up electrons to photons.
Because photons have no mass and fly faster, the size of devices operating on the principles of photonics, hundreds of times smaller than the usual modern servers. A data rate on the contrary, is ten times higher.
For example, today a ground radar station (RLS) is a building of several floors. A radar uses the principle radiofotoniki, can be installed on a truck, for example KAMAZ. If you combine several of these mobile systems in the network, their power and efficiency will be unprecedented. In doing so, the network will have a unique resistance to the electromagnetic pulse arising in the solar magnetic storms or nearby lightning strikes.
As a result, the level of resolution, speed, and efficiency of the broadband radar will become so high that it is quite possible they will be called “radar sight”.
Use similar system is planned not only in defense industries, but also in the civil sphere. For example, in transport: they can instantly detect obstacles in the way of high-speed trains. And even in the housing and communal services: the photons are able to replace the hot water in urban heating systems (energy propagating through the photonic crystal fiber is converted into heat with nearly 100% efficiency).
Currently photonics in Russia involved about 850 companies. Most of them are concentrated in the Moscow region, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk and the Volga region. One of the largest manufacturers in this field is
KRET.
Today KRET and the Foundation for Advanced Studies (FPI), together create the element base radiofotoniki for radio astronomy, radar and other areas. The corresponding agreement was signed by the company in early 2015. The project “Development of an active phased array based radiofotoniki” includes research on the basis of the concern and the development of universal technology, which will be the basis for radar and electronic warfare systems of the new generation.
The budget allocated hundreds of millions of rubles for the creation of a special laboratory, which will undertake exploratory research projects, as well as testing of experimental samples radiofotoniki element base and a wide range of devices based on it. It is expected that the study will take 4.5 years.
In addition, experts KRET doing now extending the scope of devices and systems based on radiofotoniki for radio astronomy, radar, radio communications over optical fiber, mobile.
“Radiofotonika – this promising scientific field, which in the future will determine the vector of development of dual-use technologies in the world, – the general director Nikolai Kolesov KRET. – For Russia, this is a huge scientific and technological breakthrough, which will mark the transition to the sixth technological order. “
By 2020, with the help of latest technology KRET plans to create effective and advanced two-way radio, radar, and other RF systems, which will replace the existing one. For example, the use of systems of radio-optical phased arrays (ROFAR) in the long term will build a network of synchronized unique space and ground telescopes, as well as to cover the fuselage of aircraft and helicopters “smart” a new type of skin.
Radar-based ROFAR be equipped with, for example, Russia’s fifth-generation fighter PAK-FA, a number of other aircraft – manned and unmanned, and naval platforms, such as radar ships and submarines.
ROFAR systems will reduce the weight and size of electronic equipment by 5-7 times. The functions of modern antennas will perform another promising locator.
Thanks ROFAR resolution of communications and radar will increase tenfold. If modern radar radiation frequency of 10 GHz, with a 3 cm wide range of 1-2 GHz, then ROFAR this frequency can range from 1 Hz to 100 GHz at the same time.
In other words, radio-optical phased array antennas are capable of doing a kind of “X-ray of” planes located at a distance of over 500 kilometers, and to give them a detailed, three-dimensional image. Moreover, since the signal is able to penetrate any obstacles, including lead-meter wall, this technology allows you to look inside the object to find out what technique he is, how many people there are and even see their faces.
Source:
Rostec.ru website