EARS: Collaborative Research: Blind Source Separation with Integrated Photonics

当通过单个天线观看无线电世界时，它看起来就像一部只有一个像素的电影。多天线系统可以高清显示整个无线电世界；然而，它们产生的惊人数量的数据根本不可能让电子计算机足够快地处理。同时，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一种智能的方式将它们组合在一起，以销毁不需要的和冗余的信息。光学(即光子)物理具有极宽的带宽和特殊的性质，使其非常适合于多天线问题。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多个天线的信号向下输送到一个信息丰富的信号，以便后续电子设备更容易管理。一种众所周知的“智能”组合信号的方法称为盲源分离(BSS)。BSS是拆分已在空中混合的无线电信号的最强大的技术。换句话说，盲源分离系统可以使用统计学将感兴趣的信号从干扰信号中分离出来，而不需要对它们进行任何假设。该项目将开发一种用于盲源分离的光子方法。将光子学和盲源分离相结合，可以使无线电系统更好地理解和共享无线频谱，本研究的目的是利用集成的光子学方法开发一种盲源分离技术，从而在保护用户隐私的同时实现射频干扰消除。该项目的智力优势来自于它以正交的方式应对无线电接入、光学物理、统计分析和新兴技术的跨学科挑战。频谱监测--维持频谱和谐使用的重要工具--对用户隐私构成威胁。该项目将调查可以丢弃守法用户信号而不查看其数据内容的“盲”频谱监测技术。科学服务，如地球探测和射电天文学，可以受益于独立于格式的技术，通过人造无线通信日益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是一个新的理论挑战。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来弥合光学硬件和统计分析之间的差距。设计、构建和演示的强大实验推力将验证理论见解。项目目标将是开发与光子集成和制造领域的最新趋势相兼容的硬件。铸造厂的兼容性是最终产品为大众所能负担的关键一步。

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.