Flat optical frequency comb generation for high frequency and broadband photonic RF channelization

Abstract

This paper presents the design and simulative results of an optical frequency comb (OFC) with good flatness and wide Free Spectral Range (FSR) for the photonic Radio-Frequency (RF) channelization used to process high frequency and wideband RF signals. The scheme of a photonic RF channelizer employing a flat optical frequency comb based on cascaded intensity modulator (IM) and phase modulator (PM) is described and the performance of the adopted OFC generator is investigated through simulation. By tuning the power and the phase of the driven signal respectively, 8 lines and 12 lines flat OFCs spaced by 40 GHz with the flatness less than 2.2dB and 1.1dB are achieved. The simulation results confirms the cost-effective generation of a very flat OFC, which is suitable for the RF channelizer and makes the real-time, high-resolution monitoring of the entire RF spectrum feasible.