微波光子雷达及关键技术

Microwave photonic radar and key technologies

雷达是人类进行全天候目标探测与识别的主要手段,多功能、高精度、实时探测一直是雷达研究者追求的目标。这些特性实现的基础都是对宽带微波信号的高速操控,但受限于"电子瓶颈",宽带信号的产生、控制和处理在传统电子学中极为复杂甚至无法完成。光子技术与生俱来的大带宽、低传输损耗、抗电磁干扰等特性,使其成为突破雷达带宽瓶颈和"照亮雷达未来"的关键使能技术。同时光子系统重量轻、体积小、可集成,可以将雷达系统的体积重量降低数十倍,从而大大减轻飞机、卫星、舰艇等的载荷。因此光子技术的引入有可能改变现有雷达系统的体制,赋予雷达系统更加蓬勃的生命力。本文总结了国内外光子雷达系统的主要研究进展,讨论了光子雷达系统中的关键技术,并展望了光子雷达及其关键技术的发展趋势。

As one of the most widely-used methods for target detection and recognition, the radar has been intensively studied since it was proposed. In the past few decades, great efforts were devoted to improve radar＇s functionality, high precision and real-time performance, of which the key is to generate, control and process a wideband signal with a high speed. However, due to the well-known＂electronic bottleneck＂, it is extremely difficult for electrical systems to handle a signal with a high frequency and large bandwidth. The optical technologies, with the intrinsic characteristics of high frequency, large bandwidth, low loss transmission and electromagnetic immunity, were considered as the keys to＂illuminate the future of radar＂. In addition, photonic systems are light, small and integratable, which would significantly reduce the load of aircraft, satellites and ships when carrying the radar. Therefore, photonic technologies would change the existing radar systems, making radar systems more sustainable. In this paper, an overview of the microwave photonic radars is presented.The recent progresses of the key technologies and the future developments of the microwave photonic radars are discussed.