4S - SILVERSWORD SOFTWARE & SERVICES, LLC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: N182-102

Description

Radio Frequency over Fiber (RFoF) is not a new technology, fiber has been used to relay modulated analog signals for many years. The advent of multi-core fibers brings a new paradigm to the application. With the development of multicore fiber, the need for novel, accurate connection technologies has become imperative. The multi-core fiber, with single mode operating wavelengths of 1000nm to 1550nm, enhances emerging RFoF applications and virtually eliminates interference coupling between adjacent RF pathways. Additionally, Fiber Optic (FO) pathways are immune to external Electrical Magnetic Interference (EMI), a constant problem in electrical based RF pathways. Another advantage of RFoF networks is their phase stability. Electrical RF systems require constant attention to maintain phase-coherence due to cable sensitivities, a disadvantyage that RFoF systems do not have. Additionally, losses within the cable plant of an RFoF based system are significantly lower than their electrical cable based counterparts. Wide bandwidth, and low cable weight and size are also benefits that fiber provides over electrical cable based RF networks.