Sidelobe Suppression Enhancement of Radiofrequency Photonic Filters via Time-to-frequency Mapping

Abstract

We present a multi-tap microwave photonic filter with high selectivity through applying time-to-frequency mapping and optical frequency comb shaping techniques. When arranged in the time-to-frequency mapping stage, by a Fourier transform, the deviation of the optical taps to the target profile is significantly reduced while maintaining the apodization profile, resulting in high sidelobe suppression in the filters. By applying a simple time-to-frequency mapping stage to the conventional optical frequency combs, we demonstrate a substantially enhanced (>10dB) sidelobe suppression, resulting in filter lineshapes exhibiting a significantly high (>40dB) main lobe to sidelobe suppression ratio. These results highlight the potential of the technique for implementation in various passband filters with high sidelobe suppression.