A photonic scheme for the generation of dual linear chirp microwave waveform based on the external modulation technique and its airborne application

Abstract

Due to high frequency and large time bandwidth product; photonic generation and processing of arbitrary microwave waveforms has been an interesting topic in recent time. Here, a relatively new photonic technique has been proposed for the generation of a dual linear chirp microwave waveform in Ku-band. In this method two single drive Mach–Zehnder Modulators are cascaded at minimum transmission point and in push–pull mode. Theoretical analysis and simulation are developed by giving a complete mathematical model. As the result of this methodology, a dual linear chirp microwave waveform in Ku-band with relatively large bandwidth is generated. Comparative analysis is done in the present cascading technique with dual parallel Mach–Zehnder Modulator (DPMZM) technique. Range-Doppler coupling of the radar system has been investigated with the help of an ambiguity function diagram of the generated waveform. Results have analyzed through MATLAB simulation and verified by experimental results.