Shaping Signals in Space: Next-Gen Satellites with Reconfigurable Photonic Filters

As data transmission rates continue to increase, telecommunication channels are becoming more congested, with multiple signals sharing the same bandwidth. In this scenario, reconfigurable photonic filters offer a solution for effective spectrum management and interference reduction, ensuring reliable signal transmission while significantly minimizing size, weight, and power consumption (SWaP). Here, we propose a novel reconfigurable photonic filter with two cascaded Coupled-Resonator Optical Waveguides (CROW) architecture in the TriPleX platform over a compact footprint of 2.8×1.8 mm2. By continuously tuning the phase-change material (PCM) between its crystalline and amorphous states, arranged along the CROW with an engineered pattern, it is possible to achieve the desired adjustments in bandwidth and/or central frequency, with a range of 2 GHz and 20 GHz, respectively, with a flat bandwidth a nd an extinction ratio higher than 3.5 dB. The proposed reconfigurable photonic filter is particularly advantageous for Space payloads due to its ability to adapt both the central frequency and bandwidth while maintaining its compact size, high -speed signal processing capabilities, and adaptability to Space environment continuous changes allowing for Extremely High-Frequency applications such as radio astronomy, high-frequency microwave radio relay, and microwave remote sensing.