The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency intends to develop a miniature technology than can synthesize higher optical frequencies for use in military communications and sensing activities.DARPA launched the Direct On-chip Digital Optical Synthesizer developement project to help address the growing bandwidth requirements in both government and commercial sectors, DARPA said April 22.
“The goal of this program is to make optical frequency synthesis as ubiquitous as microwave synthesis is today,†said Robert Lutwak, a DARPA program manager.
DARPA wants a microchip to facilitate terabit-per-second communications, light detection and ranging chemical toxins detection, optical spectrum analysis and navigation.
“We’re looking for multidisciplinary teams made up of experts in micro- and nano-fabrication, optics and photonics, and heterogeneous integration to bring the component technologies together,†Lutwak said.
