MRI: Acquisition of Signal Analysis Equipment for High Frequency Electrical and Optical Research

智力优势：该NSF主要研究仪器计划支持光学和电子通信以及基本原子性质领域的基础实验研究。具体地说，该仪器将(1)测量电子和光学信号的相位和频率，以及(2)产生复杂的电子和光学信号。需要这些实验能力来研究用于先进通信系统的新型模拟光纤链路和低相位噪声光电振荡器，开发和表征用于新兴调频模拟光纤链路的低噪声固态微芯片激光器，以及研究先进的混合信号锁相环和晶体振荡器电路中的相位噪声机制--几乎所有通信系统的关键部件。该设备还将支持使用激光光谱仪测量和表征原子的基本性质。广泛影响：电子和光学电信在现代信息社会中发挥着重要的社会和经济作用。开发新的技术、电路和材料以支持新的电信应用，对于保持电信领域的创新至关重要，从而使更多的人能够获得更多的信息。研究人员致力于让本科生参与他们的研究；这笔赠款将使他们能够培训本科生使用先进的设备和实验方法，并为学生进入优秀的研究生课程以及电子和通信行业的劳动力做好准备。这些设备还将用于课堂演示，向学生展示最先进的测量技术，并将向本地大学的合作者提供，通过与这些机构的同事和研究生合作，努力增加研究人员及其本科生的教育和研究机会。

Intellectual Merits: This NSF Major Research Instrumentation Program supports fundamental experimental research in the areas of optical and electrical communications and basic atomic properties. Specifically, the instrumentation will (1) measure the phase and frequency of electronic and optical signals and (2) generate complex electronic and optical signals. These experimental capabilities are required to investigate a new class of analog fiber optic links and low phase-noise optoelectronic oscillators for use in advanced communications systems, the development and characterization of low-noise solid state microchip lasers for emerging frequency modulated analog fiber optic links, and the investigation of phase noise mechanisms in advanced mixed-signal phase-locked loop and crystal oscillators circuits -- vital components of almost every communications system. The equipment will also support the measurement and characterization of fundamental atomic properties using laser spectroscopy.Broader Impacts: Electronic and optical telecommunications play a significant social and economic role in modern information-based societies. The development of novel techniques, circuits, and materials to support new telecommunications applications is critical to maintaining innovation in the telecommunications field, thereby allowing more people access to greater amounts of information. The investigators are committed to involving undergraduates in their research; this grant will enable them to train undergraduates in the use of advanced equipment and experimental methods and to prepare students for entry into outstanding graduate programs as well as the electronics and communications industry workforce. The equipment will also be used for in-class demonstrations to show students state-of-the-art measurement techniques and it will be made available to collaborators at local universities in an effort to enhance the educational and research opportunities for the investigators and their undergraduate students through collaboration with colleagues and graduate students at these institutions.