Researchers demonstrated the viability of developing microchip-size, ultra-low-noise microwave frequency oscillators under the first phase of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Generating Radio Frequency with Photonic Oscillator for Low Noise, or GRYPHON, program.
DARPA said Wednesday the GRYPHON program, introduced in January 2022, seeks to develop ultra-low-noise microwave sources that could be deployed on mobile platforms to support communication and sensing applications.
“The results and impact from Phase 1 of GRYPHON really show what’s possible. For the first time, we’re seeing how integrated photonics allows us to break from the traditional size vs. performance vs. capability trade space and operate in a regime with exquisite performance that is exponentially better than current state of the art,” said Justin Cohen, GRYPHON program manager.
“Better and faster communications, more accurate sensing, improved detection capabilities – this work could disrupt and advance countless applications,” added Cohen.
According to DARPA, researchers in the initial phase used high-speed integrated circuits and different light-based approaches. They also integrated low-noise lasers with optical structures on low-loss photonic systems.
Under Phase 2, program researchers are working to further reduce phase noise and shrink the capabilities to targeted form factors while achieving tunability.
