Devices, methods and systems for generating wideband, high-fidelity arbitrary radio frequency (RF) passband signals are described. A voltage tunable optical filter for arbitrary RF passband signal generation includes a first input configured to receive a broadband optical pulse train, a second input configured to receive a first control voltage representative of an amplitude signal, an electrooptic modulator to receive the broadband optical pulse train and the first control voltage, to modulate the broadband optical pulse train in accordance with the amplitude signal, and to produce two complementary optical outputs that form two arms of an interferometer, an optical delay component to impart an optical path difference into one of the complementary outputs of the electrooptic modulator, and a combiner or a splitter to receive two complementary optical outputs of the electrooptic modulator after impartation of the optical path difference and to produce an output interference pattern of fringes.

An optical source including: a phase-randomised light source including a master light source configured to intermittently generate master light pulses; a slave light source optically coupled to the master light source and configured to receive the master light pulses, and that generates a sequence of slave light pulses during each period of time that a master light pulse is received; and an interferometer optically coupled to the slave light source and configured to receive sequences of slave light pulses, delay the received sequences by the first time interval to form delayed sequences of slave light pulses, interfere the received sequences with the delayed sequences, such that pulses from a received sequence interfere with adjacent pulses of the delayed sequence, and output interfered pulses including first and second output pulses that have a first and second predetermined amplitude respectively and a predetermined relative phase between them.

An optical source including: a phase-randomised light source including a master light source configured to intermittently generate master light pulses; a slave light source optically coupled to the master light source and configured to receive the master light pulses, and that generates a sequence of slave light pulses during each period of time that a master light pulse is received; and an interferometer optically coupled to the slave light source and configured to receive sequences of slave light pulses, delay the received sequences by the first time interval to form delayed sequences of slave light pulses, interfere the received sequences with the delayed sequences, such that pulses from a received sequence interfere with adjacent pulses of the delayed sequence, and output interfered pulses including first and second output pulses that have a first and second predetermined amplitude respectively and a predetermined relative phase between them.

A signal generator includes a photonic circuit configured to output a sequence of solitons at a known rate. The solitons illuminate a high-speed photodiode that, in response, generates an electrical signal, such as a sinusoidal signal, which can be provided as input to a direct digital synthesizer configured to output successive phases of a selected waveform in response to electrical stimulus.

A signal generator includes a photonic circuit configured to output a sequence of solitons at a known rate. The solitons illuminate a high-speed photodiode that, in response, generates an electrical signal, such as a sinusoidal signal, which can be provided as input to a direct digital synthesizer configured to output successive phases of a selected waveform in response to electrical stimulus.

A system for identifying a target object includes a database containing a plurality of unique combinations of a plurality of orbital angular momentum modes. Each of the unique combinations of the plurality of orbital angular momentum modes is associated with a particular type of target object. A signal generator generates a signal having one of a plurality of orbital angular momentum modes applied thereto and directs the signal toward the target object. A transceiver transmits the signal toward the target object and receives a second signal having a unique combination of a plurality of orbital angular momentum modes reflected from the target object. A detection system compares the second signal having the unique combination of the plurality of orbital angular momentum modes with the plurality of unique combinations of the plurality of unique orbital angular unique combination of a plurality of orbital angular momentum modes within the database, identifies the target object responsive to the comparison of the second signal having the unique combination of the plurality of orbital angular momentum modes with the plurality of unique combinations of the plurality of unique orbital angular unique combination of a plurality of orbital angular momentum modes within the database and provides an output identifying the target object.

A system for identifying a target object includes a database containing a plurality of unique combinations of a plurality of orbital angular momentum modes. Each of the unique combinations of the plurality of orbital angular momentum modes is associated with a particular type of target object. A signal generator generates a signal having one of a plurality of orbital angular momentum modes applied thereto and directs the signal toward the target object. A transceiver transmits the signal toward the target object and receives a second signal having a unique combination of a plurality of orbital angular momentum modes reflected from the target object. A detection system compares the second signal having the unique combination of the plurality of orbital angular momentum modes with the plurality of unique combinations of the plurality of unique orbital angular unique combination of a plurality of orbital angular momentum modes within the database, identifies the target object responsive to the comparison of the second signal having the unique combination of the plurality of orbital angular momentum modes with the plurality of unique combinations of the plurality of unique orbital angular unique combination of a plurality of orbital angular momentum modes within the database and provides an output identifying the target object.

An optical communication system comprises an optical communication device and an optical power supply configured to generate a sequence of optical frame templates directed to the optical communication device. The optical communication device may use the received optical frame templates as a light source for generating data-loaded optical frames and/or may extract from the optical frame templates control information encoded therein using one or more headers thereof.

A Wireless Avionics Intra-Communication (WAIC) system includes a communication network and a WAIC adapter location system. The communication network is configured to exchange data with a portable wireless device via WAIC adapter. The WAIC adapter location system is configured to determine a location of the WAIC adapter, which selectively connects and disconnects the portable device from the communication network based on the location.

A Wireless Avionics Intra-Communication (WAIC) system includes a communication network and a WAIC adapter location system. The communication network is configured to exchange data with a portable wireless device via WAIC adapter. The WAIC adapter location system is configured to determine a location of the WAIC adapter, which selectively connects and disconnects the portable device from the communication network based on the location.