Abstract
We demonstrate a programmable microwave photonic bandpass filter with a rectangular frequency response and a reconfigurable spectral resolution. We achieved these features through dual-sidebands processing of a phase modulated signal using a network of four optical ring resonators in a low-loss silicon nitride (Si3N4) circuit. Furthermore, we integrate a pair of optical ring resonators in the same circuit to precisely control the amplitude and phase of the optical carrier to enhance the noise performance of the filter. We achieved filtering with a tunable bandwidth from 2 to 7 GHz with optical carrier suppression up to 6 dB, a maximum RF gain of -10 dB, and a minimum noise figure of 27 dB. These experiments are expected to provide a feasible design to approach fully integrated microwave photonic filters with improved link gain and reduced noise figure.
Highlights
Integrated microwave photonics (MWP) is an emerging field where photonic components manipulate radio frequency (RF) signals with the incorporation of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) in microwave photonic system [1], offers multiple advantages including massive footprint reduction as well as enhance functionality, flexibility and performance, making them more comparable to RF circuits and important for RF front end application
An integrated microwave photonic filter, as an analog signal processing with fully optimized RF performance is obtained with advanced notch filtering functions using low-biasing Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) as photonic link optimization technique to achieve low noise figure [NF] [2]
We report and demonstrated experimentally an MWP bandpass filter with a rectangular frequency response and a reconfigurable spectral resolution combined with an optical carrier processor to enhance the noise performance, all integrated on a silicon nitride photonic chip
Summary
Integrated microwave photonics (MWP) is an emerging field where photonic components manipulate radio frequency (RF) signals with the incorporation of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) in microwave photonic system [1], offers multiple advantages including massive footprint reduction as well as enhance functionality, flexibility and performance, making them more comparable to RF circuits and important for RF front end application By having these benefits in integrated microwave photonic system, it is important to find a way to combine reconfigurable microwave photonic functionality with noise performance enhancement technique for the broadband and real-time analog signal processing. The use of PM prevents the advantages of low-biasing operation used readily available in MZM-based systems To overcome this limitation, an optical carrier suppression technique implemented using external optical filters were used to emulate low biasing [10,11]. The limit of ring-based carrier suppression technique has not been explored to date, nor its combination with more advanced bandpass filtering functions
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
