Abstract
Optical modulation plays arguably the utmost important role in microwave photonic (MWP) systems. Precise synthesis of modulated optical spectra dictates virtually all aspects of MWP system quality including loss, noise figure, linearity, and types of functionalities that can be executed. However, for such a critical function, the versatility to generate and transform analog optical modulation is severely lacking, blocking the pathways to truly unique MWP functions including ultra-linear links and low-loss high rejection filters. Here, we demonstrate a versatile radiofrequency (RF) photonic spectral shaper integrated in a silicon photonic circuit. The spectral shaper controls the two modulation bands generated from an electro-optic modulation process in their relative amplitude and phase, offering an enhanced versatility for microwave-photonic modulation applications. Using the spectral shaper, we show electrically tailorable modulation transformations. Furthermore, we show a series of unprecedented RF filtering experiments through monolithic integration of the spectral shaper with a network of reconfigurable ring resonators.
Highlights
In a canonical microwave photonic (MWP) system,1,2 radiofrequency (RF) signals are shaped and manipulated using optical techniques and components for wider processing bandwidth and advanced functionalities, which include tunable filtering,3,4 microwave beamsteering,5 tailored RF waveform generation,6 and RF spectrum analysis.7 Optical modulation, as the step to translate an RF signal into the optical domain, is the most critical step in all of these systems with its significance going beyond simple encoding of the RF information onto the optical carrier
The phase and amplitude relations between these spectral components are essential in determining the types of functionalities that can be achieved in MWP systems
The de-interleaver outputs containing the isolated sideband are routed to a cascade of a thermo-optic phase shifter and a tunable coupler implemented as a balanced Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI), for independent phase and amplitude tailoring
Summary
In a canonical microwave photonic (MWP) system, radiofrequency (RF) signals are shaped and manipulated using optical techniques and components for wider processing bandwidth and advanced functionalities, which include tunable filtering, microwave beamsteering, tailored RF waveform generation, and RF spectrum analysis. Optical modulation, as the step to translate an RF signal into the optical domain, is the most critical step in all of these systems with its significance going beyond simple encoding of the RF information onto the optical carrier. As the step to translate an RF signal into the optical domain, is the most critical step in all of these systems with its significance going beyond simple encoding of the RF information onto the optical carrier. The mixing products of the optical carrier and the RF sidebands will interfere at the RFs and dictate the phase and amplitude of the output RF signals. In these views, versatile control and shaping of RF modulated spectral components are critical to determining the overall performance and characteristics of a microwave photonic system
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