EARS: Collaborative Research: Blind Source Separation with Integrated Photonics

无线电世界，当通过一个天线观看时，看起来就像一部只有一个像素的电影。多天线系统可以以高清的方式揭示整个无线电世界;然而，它们产生的惊人数量的数据对于电子计算机来说根本不可能处理得足够快。同时，由不同天线接收的信号在很大程度上是冗余的，因此第一步通常是以智能的方式将它们联合收割机组合，从而破坏不期望的和冗余的信息。光学（即光子学）物理是非常宽带的，具有特殊的性质，使它们非常适合多天线问题。光携带的信号可以非常有效地组合在一起，使光子处理器能够将来自许多天线的信号汇集到一个信息丰富的信号中，这对于后续的电子设备来说更容易管理。一种众所周知的用于“智能地”组合信号的方法被称为盲源分离（BSS）。BSS是分离空中混合的无线电信号的最强大的技术。换句话说，BSS可以使用统计数据将感兴趣的信号与干扰信号分离，而无需对它们进行任何假设。该项目将开发一种光子BSS方法。结合光子学和盲源分离技术，可以使无线电系统更好地理解和共享无线频谱。本研究的目的是通过使用集成光子学方法来开发盲源分离技术，从而在保护用户隐私的同时实现射频干扰消除。 该项目的智力价值源于其对无线电接入挑战的正交方法，光学物理学，统计分析和新兴技术的交叉学科。频谱监测是维护频谱使用和谐的重要工具，但它对用户的隐私构成了威胁。该项目将研究“盲”频谱监测技术，这种技术可以丢弃守法用户的信号，而不查看他们的数据内容。科学服务，如地球探测和射电天文学，可以受益于格式无关的技术，通过人为无线通信越来越响亮和复杂的噪音来解析自然信号。确定如何智能地丢弃不需要的信息提出了一个新的理论挑战。该项目的一个支柱将是开发算法，通过合成统计不变量的多个测量值，弥合光学硬件和统计分析之间的差距。一个强大的实验推力设计，建造和演示将验证理论的见解。一个项目的目标将是开发与光子集成和制造的最新趋势兼容的硬件。铸造厂的兼容性是最终产品向公众提供负担得起的关键一步。

The radio world, when viewed through a single antenna, appears as a movie with just one pixel. Multi-antenna systems could reveal the complete radio world in hi-def; however, the astounding quantity of data they generate is simply impossible for electronic computers to handle fast enough. At the same time, the signals received by different antennas are largely redundant, so the first step is generally to combine them in an intelligent way that destroys the undesired and redundant information. Optical (i.e. photonic) physics are extremely broadband and have special properties making them well-suited to multi-antenna problems. Signals carried by light can be very efficiently combined, enabling a photonic processor to funnel the signals from many antennas down to just one information-rich signal that is more manageable for the following electronics. One well-known approach for "intelligently" combining signals is called blind source separation (BSS). BSS is the most powerful technique for pulling apart radio signals that have been mixed over the air. In other words, BSS can use statistics to separate an interesting signal from an interfering signal without assuming anything about them. This project will develop a photonic approach to BSS. Combined, photonics and blind source separation could allow radio systems to better understand and share the wireless spectrum.The objective of the proposed research is to develop a blind source separation technique by using an integrated photonics approach, thereby realizing radio-frequency interference cancellation while preserving user privacy. The project's intellectual merit stems from its orthogonal approach to the challenges of radio access, crossing disciplines of optical physics, statistical analysis, and emerging technology. Spectrum monitoring - an important tool for maintaining harmonious spectrum usage - poses a threat to users' privacy. The project will investigate "blind" spectrum monitoring techniques that can discard the signals of law-abiding users without looking at the content of their data. Science services, such as Earth exploration and radio astronomy, could benefit from format-independent techniques for resolving natural signals through the increasingly loud and complex din of man-made wireless communications. Determining how to intelligently discard undesired information presents a novel theoretical challenge. One pillar of the project will be developing algorithms to bridge the gap between optical hardware and statistical analytics by synthesizing multiple measurements of statistical invariants. A strong experimental thrust to design, build, and demonstrate will validate theoretical insights. A project goal will be the development of hardware that is compatible with recent trends in photonic integration and manufacturing. Foundry compatibility is a key step towards eventual products affordable to the general public.