RAAPTR_Proposers_Day_Slides.pdf

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Radiofrequency Architectures Applying Photonic Timing and Routing

(RAAPTR)

Justin Cohen, Ph.D.

Program Manager, Multi X Office

Proposers Day

June 16, 2026

A new generation of precision microwave sources is here

Prototype Photonic Oscillator Optical 200 THz divided down to 10 GHz

State-of-the-Art Quartz Oscillator Acoustic 100 MHz multiplied up to 10 GHz vs.

10 – 100 times lower noise Manufacturable at semiconductor economies of scale

Inherently rugged

Operating at fundamental noise limits after 90 years of optimization, and unable to maintain performance on mobile platforms

Wenzel Associates

Caltech, UCSB, NIST

2022 – 2025: Generating RF with Photonics for Low Noise (GRYPHON)

Chip-scale photonics

Science questions have been answered

Chip-scale low-noise lasers

Stable miniature optical references High-frequency photodetectors

Low-noise microwave generation techniques

Yale, NIST

UCSB Caltech, UCSB

UVA

NIST

Data adapted from Wenzel GMXO-FR data sheet and Nakamura et al., Nat. Photon. (2026) Phase noise converted to equivalent noise for 10 GHz carrier

Low-noise microwave

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Chip-scale frequency combs

GRYPHON

Quartz

2022 – 2025: Generating RF with Photonics for Low Noise (GRYPHON)

Chip-scale photonics

Science questions have been answered

Chip-scale low-noise lasers

Stable miniature optical references High-frequency photodetectors

Low-noise microwave generation techniques

Yale, NIST

UCSB Caltech, UCSB

UVA

NIST

Data adapted from Wenzel GMXO-FR data sheet and Nakamura et al., Nat. Photon. (2026) Phase noise converted to equivalent noise for 10 GHz carrier

Low-noise microwave

Distribution Statement (A): Approved for public release. Distribution unlimited.

GRYPHON

Quartz Quartz - Vibed???

Chip-scale frequency combs

Outstanding challenge: maintaining low noise under environmental stress

-180

-160

-140

-120

-100

-80

-60

-40

0.10 1.00 10.00

Ph as e N oi se dB c/ H z)

Average Vibration (g)

Vibration-Induced Noise airground sea munitions

Vibration-Induced Noise

Environmental effects, especially vibration, severely degrade performance frequency

∆f = 1 Hz around 10 GHz carrier!

ACC OSC.AMP

Mitigation methods only go so far, and add SWaP Isolation Mount Compensation Circuit performance need

Aeroflex Illustration Courtesy of John Vig

Outstanding challenge: microsystem integration

Hybrid Integration Multi-Chip Modules Photonic Wire Bonding Heterogeneous Integration

Many compelling capabilities, each with unique manufacturing advantages and challenges

Pixapp ficonTEC Dream Photonics UCSB: Xiang et al., Science (2021)

Outstanding challenge: maintaining low noise at system level mixer antenna amplifier

ADC converter filter beamformer Doppler frequency conversion and phase-locked loops digital analog

10 MHz acoustic mode local oscillator integrate here?

20 GHz oscillator integrate here?

amplifier

Photonics can provide a low-noise source, but downstream components degrade the advantage

RF Architectures Applying Photonic Timing and Routing (RAAPTR) antenna

ADC converter filter beamformer Doppler optical frequency comb digital analog

200 THz laser optical amplifier amplifier

Re-imagining RF system architectures, with performance rooted in optics

Key RAAPTR goals antenna

ADC converter filter beamformer Doppler optical frequency comb digital analog

200 THz laser optical amplifier amplifier

Linking breakthrough component performance with clear defense use case and platform capabilities

Oscillator Low phase noise and timing deviation in compact form factor under airborne vibration levels

Architecture Retains noise and timing performance levels within 3 dB

System Differentiated radar, EW, and comms capabilities for compact mobile platforms (proposer defined)

Program metrics

Category Metric Value

Oscillator

Phase Noise at 100 Hz* -120 dBc/Hz Phase Noise at 10 kHz* -150 dBc/Hz Output Frequency Selectable within 1–40 GHz Timing Deviation from 1 to 100 seconds

1 ps

Output Power Proposer Defined Volume** 300 cc Power Consumption Proposer Defined

Architecture Phase Noise and Timing Budget*** 3 dB Performance Attributes Proposer Defined

Environment Vibration**** 0.04 g2/Hz Temperature -40 to 85 °C

* Phase noise metrics are defined at the specified offset frequency from a 10 GHz carrier frequency. Proposals to operate at other output frequencies f within the 1–40 GHz band must scale the phase noise metric by 20log(f/10).

** The oscillator volume metric includes all optoelectronic components necessary to operate the oscillator, such as pump lasers and photodetectors. Control electronics may be implemented in printed circuit boards that do not contribute to the volume metric in Phase 1, but must be integrated into the volume metric in Phase 2.

*** The noise and timing budget metric requires that at any point of the analog RF system, phase noise and timing deviation do not exceed 3 dB of the oscillator output performance.

Architecture metrics must be met under the environmental conditions specified in the table in an integrated breadboard in Phase 1.

**** Vibration profile as specified in MIL-STD-883-2, Method 2026, Test Condition I/B.

Program structure

M6: Oscillator design meets metrics in simulation

M12: Internal oscillator devices characterized for vibration sensitivity

M12: Analog components characterized for noise performance

M12: Initial architecture design completed with use case flow-down requirements

M15: Un-packaged oscillator functional test

M18: Un-packaged oscillator and analog signal chain functional on integrated breadboard

M21: Packaged oscillator functional test

M24: Packaged oscillator characterized under relevant environmental conditions in lab

M24: Integrated analog sub-system characterized under relevant environmental conditions in lab

M24: Final architecture design and test plan completed

M24: Functional demonstration concept and budget completed

M27: Integrated oscillator and analog sub-system breadboard test under relevant environmental conditions in lab

M30: Integrated brass-board with oscillator, analog, and digital subsystem complete

M36: Flight test of brass-board on Government-furnished test platform

Potential award modification: Phase 2 functional system development and demonstration, pending availability of funds and transition partner interest

Rugged combs enable more than just low-noise oscillators

Low-noise microwave oscillators

GRYPHON, DODOS, PULSE

High-bandwidth data movement

PIPES, SOAP, POEM

High-stability clocks ROCkN, A-PhI, ACES, ONR NGAC

High-precision time transfer ROCkN, PULSE

RAAPTR-hardened optical frequency comb

Solving the RAAPTR challenge also enables fielding decades of record-setting optical device R&D

0110101010101101101

Optical timing + data movement = coherence over arbitrary distances

Sub-picosecond oscillator stability and/or stable time transfer

Terabit-per-second-class data transfer from integrated optical transceivers

I/O

I/O

RAAPTR optical backbone can be extended across multiple platforms to fuse large numbers of apertures

Extending multi-statics to the microwave band and to mobile platforms

Capturing the impact

WE WANT YOU

To identify the use case and host platform that makes best use of photonic oscillators and optical devices!

Application to guide RF architecture design and proposer-defined performance metrics

Initial categories of interest to DARPA included in forthcoming CUI addendum

Compelling concepts could lead to Phase 2 expanded effort

Elements of a successful performer team

Chip-scale photonic device development

Optical and mechanical oscillator design, integration, and packaging

Analog device development

Analog/mixed-signal component design, integration, and packaging Digital algorithm development

Potential for fundamental research

Analog-RF and digital-RF system design CONOPS development and defense platform expertise

CUI or higher in accordance with proposer-defined use case and host platform in te rn al d ev ice re qu ire m en ts e.

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$58M total program funding intended for Other Transaction Awards to three to five performers

• Proposers Day Special Notice and presentation materials include sufficient background to form teams and initial concepts in advance of program solicitation

• Today is about showcasing relevant capabilities across organizations to jump-start proposal development

• Questions about the program?

• Send to RAAPTR@darpa.mil and we will seek to clarify in the upcoming Program Solicitation

Goals for today mailto:RAAPTR@darpa.mil www.darpa.mil