Time-stretch analog-to-digital conversion with a photonic crystal fiber

Abstract

All-optical analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) has been extensively researched to break through the inherently limited operating speed of electronic devices. In this paper, we use the photonic crystal fiber (PCF) for time-stretch (TS) analog-todigital (A/D) conversion system through generating low noise, linear chirp distribution and flat super-continuum (SC). Based on the radio frequency (RF) analog signal modulated to the linearly chirped super-continuum, the large-dispersion photonic crystal fiber is used for time-domain stretching.