Arbitrary Waveform Research Articles

Full recovery of ultrafast waveforms lost under noise

The ability to detect ultrafast waveforms arising from randomly occurring events is essential to such diverse fields as bioimaging, spectroscopy, radio-astronomy, sensing and telecommunications. However, noise remains a significant challenge to recover the information carried by such waveforms, which are often too weak for detection. The key issue is that most of the undesired noise is contained within the broad frequency band of the ultrafast waveform, such that it cannot be alleviated through conventional methods. In spite of intensive research efforts, no technique can retrieve the complete description of a noise-dominated ultrafast waveform of unknown parameters. Here, we propose a signal denoising concept involving passive enhancement of the coherent content of the signal frequency spectrum, which enables the full recovery of arbitrary ultrafast waveforms buried under noise, in a real-time and single-shot fashion. We experimentally demonstrate the retrieval of picosecond-resolution waveforms that are over an order of magnitude weaker than the in-band noise. By granting access to previously undetectable information, this concept shows promise for advancing various fields dealing with weak or noise-dominated broadband waveforms.

Complementary frequency modulated radar waveforms and optimised receive processing

Design methodologies are developed for complementary frequency modulated (FM) waveforms and for optimised complementary mismatched filtering (MMF) of arbitrary non-repeating waveforms. The former is a sub-class of random FM waveforms denoted as complementary FM (Comp-FM) while the latter extends a practical instantiation of least-squares mismatched filtering yielding the mismatched complementary-on-receive filtering (MiCRFt) scheme. Both of these approaches have an emphasis on the non-ideal physical effects of the radar transmitter and receiver, thereby permitting high-fidelity simulation analysis and subsequent experimental demonstration of their efficacy using open-air measurements.

Brillouin optical correlation-domain reflectometry based on arbitrary waveform modulation: a theoretical study.

We put forward a new theory on Brillouin optical correlation-domain reflectometry (BOCDR) based on arbitrary waveform modulation. We derive a universal representation for the spatial resolution using the foot convexity of the beat spectrum. This result well explains the previous results based on sinusoidal modulation, and thus our theory is the consistent extension of the conventional theory on BOCDR. This representation is also applicable to the spatial resolution evaluation of more complicated modulation schemes, such as the combined use of intensity and frequency modulations even with some phase delay. We also discuss what kinds of modulation waveforms should not be employed for distributed measurement to ensure high spatial resolution.

Programmable, direct space-to-time picosecond resolution pulse shaper with nanosecond record.

We demonstrate a novel, to the best of our knowledge, extension of optical arbitrary waveform generation capable of picosecond resolution over nanosecond duration. The method, called space-time induced linearly encoded transcription for temporal optimization, is based on direct space-to-time pulse shaping and is extended here to single-mode output with a programmable temporal profile. We develop the theory of operation and discuss ultimate limits on resolution, record length, and efficiency. We report on the results of an experimental demonstration showing ∼1ps resolution over 600 ps.

Intrinsic coordinates algorithm for efficient simulation of weak-shock propagation in relaxing media

An algorithm based on intrinsic coordinates is presented for calculating the propagation of a weak shock starting with an arbitrary initial waveform in a fluid with multiple relaxation mechanisms. Use of intrinsic coordinates avoids discretization of thin shocks, allowing for more efficient simulation.

Fast pulse shaping for a novel gated electron mirror.

We present the design and prototype of a switchable electron mirror, along with a technique for driving it with an arbitrary pulse shape. We employ a general technique for electronic pulse-shaping, where high fidelity of the pulse shape is required, but the characteristics of the system, which are possibly nonlinear, are not known. This driving technique uses an arbitrary waveform generator to pre-compensate the pulse, with a simple iterative algorithm used to generate the input waveform. This is a broadly applicable, general method for arbitrary pulse shaping. Driving our switchable electron mirror with a flat-top pulse, we demonstrate an improvement in rms error of roughly two orders of magnitude compared to an uncompensated waveform. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of high fidelity waveform reproduction in the presence of nonidealities, with immediate applications in the realization of novel electron optical components.

Photonic Scheme for the Generation of Background-Free Phase-Coded Microwave Pulses and Dual-Chirp Microwave Waveforms

We propose a photonic scheme to generate binary phase-coded microwave pulses and dual-chirp microwave waveforms without baseband-modulated signals (background noise) based on a dual-polarization dual-drive Mach-Zehnder modulator (DP-DDMZM) which contains x-DDMZM and y-DDMZM at two different polarization states. A radio frequency (RF) signal from a microwave source is transferred into two differential RF signals and employed into one arm of x-DDMZM and one arm of y-DDMZM, while a baseband signal from an arbitrary waveform generator is divided by an electronic coupler and then driven into the two other arms of DP-DDMZM. By adjusting the phase differences between the x-DDMZM and the y-DDMZM, binary phase-coded pulses and dual-chirp signals without baseband-modulated signals are generated. The proposed scheme can eliminate the interference caused by baseband-modulated signals, and satisfy different radar applications for different frequency bands. Experimental results show that phase-coded signals at 15 GHz with the bit rates of 1 Gb/s and 2 Gb/s and dual-chirp signals at 10 GHz and 15 GHz with the time durations of 0.5 μs are successfully generated. The reported scheme is well analyzed in theory and verified by experiment.

Flat-top supercontinuum generation via Gaussian pulse shaping.

We present the flat-top supercontinuum source with high repetition rate over a broad bandwidth. The flatness and high repetition rate are achieved by iterative optical line-by-line spectrum shaping on electro-optic optical frequency combs. By applying Gaussian apodized pulse train to a highly nonlinear medium with optimized Gaussian coefficient and nonlinear polarization rotation techniques, we implemented here a flat-top supercontinuum with a 47.7 nm bandwidth at 3 dB and 30 GHz repetition rate. The generation of high repetition rate supercontinuum sources with smooth and coherent spectrum is the critical challenging task for many applications such as optical communications and the optical arbitrary waveform generation. This work leads us to new possibilities for generating hundreds or thousands of flattened coherent optical carriers with a simple configuration.

Linearity measurements of critical Johnson noise thermometer components with low-distortion multitones from a Josephson arbitrary waveform synthesizer

Quantum-based and low-distortion multitone signals from a Josephson arbitrary waveform synthesizer are used to calibrate critical noise thermometer components between 8 and 240 kHz at increased input noise levels. The example signal path includes a 24-bit ΣΔ analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and a prototype amplifier for Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt’s new noise thermometer. The signals consist of odd harmonics of the pattern repetition frequency with growing tone spacing, minimizing the influence of intermodulation distortion during calibration. After a detailed description of the calibration procedure, we compare the multitone spectra with growing tone spacing to ones with equally spaced tones. For the example signal path, gain nonlinearities better than ±2 µV V−1 at input rms noise levels between 9.7 and 465 µV are experimentally demonstrated. Furthermore, we investigate the effect of dither and applied offset voltage on the non-linearity of the ADC.

Fast physical repetitive patterns generation for masking in time-delay reservoir computing

Albeit the conceptual simplicity of hardware reservoir computing, the various implementation schemes that have been proposed so far still face versatile challenges. The conceptually simplest implementation uses a time delay approach, where one replaces the ensemble of nonlinear nodes with a unique nonlinear node connected to a delayed feedback loop. This simplification comes at a price in other parts of the implementation; repetitive temporal masking sequences are required to map the input information onto the diverse states of the time delay reservoir. These sequences are commonly introduced by arbitrary waveform generators which is an expensive approach when exploring ultra-fast processing speeds. Here we propose the physical generation of clock-free, sub-nanosecond repetitive patterns, with increased intra-pattern diversity and their use as masking sequences. To that end, we investigate numerically a semiconductor laser with a short optical feedback cavity, a well-studied dynamical system that provides a wide diversity of emitted signals. We focus on those operating conditions that lead to a periodic signal generation, with multiple harmonic frequency tones and sub-nanosecond limit cycle dynamics. By tuning the strength of the different frequency tones in the microwave domain, we access a variety of repetitive patterns and sample them in order to obtain the desired masking sequences. Eventually, we apply them in a time delay reservoir computing approach and test them in a nonlinear time-series prediction task. In a performance comparison with masking sequences that originate from random values, we find that only minor compromises are made while significantly reducing the instrumentation requirements of the time delay reservoir computing system.

Towards chronic deep brain stimulation in freely moving hemiparkinsonian rats: applicability and functionality of a fully implantable stimulation system

Objective. This study aimed at investigating a novel fully implantable deep brain stimulation (DBS) system and its ability to modulate brain metabolism and behavior through subthalamic nucleus (STN) stimulation in a hemiparkinsonian rat model. Approach. Twelve male rats were unilaterally lesioned with 6-hydroxydopamine in the medial forebrain bundle and received a fully implantable DBS system aiming at the ipsilesional STN. Each rat underwent three cylinder tests to analyze front paw use: a PRE test before any surgical intervention, an OFF test after surgery but before stimulation onset and an ON test under DBS. To visualize brain glucose metabolism in the awake animal, two [18F]FDG scans were conducted in the OFF and ON condition. At least 4 weeks after surgery, an [18F]FDOPA scan was used to check for dopaminergic integrity. Main results. In general, STN DBS increased [18F]FDG uptake ipsilesionally and decreased it contralesionally. More specifically, bilateral orbitofrontal cortex, ipsilateral caudate putamen, sensorimotor cortex and nucleus accumbens showed significantly higher tracer uptake in ON compared to OFF condition. Contralateral cingulate and secondary motor cortex, caudate putamen, amygdala, hippocampus, retrosplenial granular cortex, superior colliculus, and parts of the cerebellum exhibited significantly higher [18F]FDG uptake in the OFF condition. On the behavioral level, stimulation was able improve use of the contralesional affected front paw suggesting an effective stimulation produced by the implanted system. Significance. The fully implantable stimulation system developed by us and presented here offers the output of arbitrary user-defined waveforms, patterns and stimulation settings and allows tracer accumulation in freely moving animals. It is therefore a suitable device for implementing behavioral PET studies. It contributes immensely to the possibilities to characterize and unveil the effects and mechanisms of DBS offering valuable clues for future improvements of this therapy.

Actively mode-locked fiber laser at 2-μm for free-space data transmission with tunable repetition rate

We experimentally demonstrate a repetition rate controllable actively mode-locked fiber laser for 2-μm free-space data transmission. The actively mode-locking can be produced by a Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) driven by an arbitrary waveform generator (AWG). A Lyot filter and a polarization dependent isolator (PD-ISO) are used to suppress the super-mode noise and the ambient noise. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the mode-locked pulse with repetition rate of about 690MHz can be increased from 42.64dB to 49.45dB. By inserting a high-precision variable optical delay line (VODL) in the cavity, the fundamental frequency of the cavity can be adjusted from 18.21MHz to 18.13MHz with a tuning accuracy of 73.52Hz. The RF spectra of the 330th order harmonic mode-locked pulses with continuously tunable repetition rate can be observed. In addition, the mode-locked pulse sequence can be driven by sine wave, triangular wave and square-wave, and the duration of actively mode-locked pulse can be tuned independently by changing the type of the driven signal.

The Design of High Precision Arbitrary Waveform Generator Based on DDS Technology and FPGA

Combining with the IP core advantage of FPGA, a signal generator which can generate arbitrary waveform is designed on the basis of direct digital synthesis technology in this paper. The INTEL company’s Cyclone IV series EP4CE6F17C8N is used as the control core and the front-end interface design is carried out by XMAL. The software control operation of the logical processing interface is realized through C#. The signal generator has the characteristics of single cycle waveform with 256 sampling points, clear spectrum analysis, higher purity and high precision. The arbitrary waveform displayed on oscilloscope is wonderful after filtering out high frequency signal by seven order butter worth filter.

Designing self-oscillating matter

Designing self-oscillating matter

Evaluation Research on “Anti-Electromagnetic Interference Performance” of Partial Discharge Detection Device in Complicated Strong Electromagnetic Interference Environment

In a strong electromagnetic environment, most of the current anti-interference methods for partial discharge signals of electronic transformers use digital notch filter, which has poor adaptability and stability. This article studies the source of interference and its impact on partial discharge detection, and has accumulated a relatively complete partial discharge sample database. On this basis, a high-performance arbitrary waveform generator is proposed to restore typical partial discharges, and a platform for quantitatively evaluating the anti-electromagnetic interference capability of partial discharge UHF detection devices through interference simulation is established. Experimental results show that the proposed method has high anti-interference performance.

The Ultra-Compact ELF Magneto-Mechanical Transmission Antenna With the Speed Modulated EM Signal Based on Three-Phase Induction Motor

An extremely low-frequency (ELF) magnetomechanical antenna with the size of one-millionth wavelength based on a three-phase induction motor is reported, whose working frequency is no longer limited by the resonant wavelength. The rotating three-phase induction motor with nonmagnetic material shell is just equivalent to a rotating magnetic dipole with 1.5 times magnetic dipole moment. It can transmit the modulated electromagnetic (EM) signal by modulating the rotating speed of the motor. A near-field ELF EM signal transmission experiment system is constructed based on the magnetomechanical antenna with <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\Phi 10$ </tex-math></inline-formula> cm <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\times50$ </tex-math></inline-formula> cm size, and the transmitted EM signals were received by a 200-turn coil, which is 10–200 m far away from the transmitter. The EM signal frequency is almost the same as the rotating speed of the motor, and it varies with the rotating speed too. With arbitrary waveform generator and variable-frequency drive (VFD) modulating the rotating speed of the motor, a near-field ELF transmitter with modulating EM signal is built, and the sawtooth wave (STW)-modulated EM signal was transmitted and received clearly during 10–200 m. The square wave (SW)-modulated EM signal was communicated too. The proposed magnetomechanical antenna has a compact size and is very suitable for ELF remote wireless communication.

Programmable light source for arbitrary waveform generation in time

Programmable light source is an opto-electronic device, producing modulation of the intensity of light of any, physically permitted, shape. It is composed of an electrically controlled light source connected in a negative feedback to a linear photodetector, and programmable electronic signal generator that drives the light source. Theory of operation, design guidelines, and experimental results are presented.

Stacked Josephson Junction Arrays for the Pulse-Driven AC Josephson Voltage Standard

We developed a fabrication process to establish large arrays of up to 5-stacked Josephson junctions for the Josephson Arbitrary Waveform Synthesizer (JAWS). SNS-type Josephson junctions with Nb <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">x</sub> Si <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">1-x</sub> barriers are used for this application. By modifying our standard window process, e.g. to add a CMP (chemical mechanical polishing) and an ALD (atomic layer deposition) step, the yield of this process was increased. An output voltage of 1 V RMS could be achieved by using 4 JAWS arrays in series with a total number of 60,000 5-stacked junctions. The investigation of the current-voltage characteristics (IVC) showed an interesting and potentially useful feature. The required pulse amplitude per junction for getting the maximum Shapiro step width reduces for higher junction stacks. We found that the pulse power linearly reduces with the square of the junction number in the array. The origin of this effect might be a strong neighbour-neighbour interaction of the junctions, which are closely arranged within the stacked configuration. This might generate a strong self-synchronization of the junctions.

NeuroDAC: an open-source arbitrary biosignal waveform generator

Objective. Researchers are developing biomedical devices with embedded closed-loop algorithms for providing advanced adaptive therapies. As these devices become more capable and algorithms become more complex, tasked with integrating and interpreting multi-channel, multi-modal electrophysiological signals, there is a need for flexible bench-top testing and prototyping. We present a methodology for leveraging off-the-shelf audio equipment to construct a biosignal waveform generator capable of streaming pre-recorded biosignals from a host computer. By re-playing known, well-characterized, but physiologically relevant real-world biosignals into a device under test, researchers can evaluate their systems without the need for expensive in vivo experiments. Approach. An open-source design based on the proposed methodology is described and validated, the NeuroDAC. NeuroDAC allows for 8 independent channels of biosignal playback using a simple, custom designed attenuation and buffering circuit. Applications can communicate with the device over a USB interface using standard audio drivers. On-board analog amplitude adjustment is used to maximize the dynamic range for a given signal and can be independently tuned for each channel. Main results. Low noise component selection yields a no-signal noise floor of just 5.35 ± 0.063. NeuroDAC’s frequency response is characterized with a high pass −3 dB rolloff at 0.57 Hz, and is capable of accurately reproducing a wide assortment of biosignals ranging from EMG, EEG, and ECG to extracellularly recorded neural activity. We also present an application example using the device to test embedded algorithms on a closed-loop neural modulation device, the Medtronic RC+S. Significance. By making the design of NeuroDAC open-source we aim to present an accessible tool for rapidly prototyping new biomedical devices and algorithms than can be easily modified based on individual testing needs.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: NCT04281134, NCT03437928, NCT03582891

Investigation of Broadband Wilkinson Power Dividers for Pulse-Driven Josephson Voltage Standards

This paper describes recent developments for increasing the output voltage of the Josephson Arbitrary Waveform Synthesizer (JAWS) at PTB. For this purpose, we developed modified broadband Wilkinson power dividers, which enable the operation of two or four Josephson junction series arrays per RF channel of the pulse pattern generator and thus the generation of increased output voltages. In detail, we designed and investigated two different Wilkinson power dividers: the one-stage three-section Wilkinson power divider with extended bandwidth and the two-stage single-section Wilkinson divider with more outputs to combine four parallel series arrays. They were both integrated with triple-stacked Josephson junction series arrays. Additionally, a new modulator pulse amplifier was introduced into the JAWS set-up to provide sufficient power for all the junction arrays. Our measurement results show that spectrally pure sinusoidal waveforms were successfully generated with both types of power dividers. With the one-stage three-section Wilkinson power divider, we obtained RMS voltages of nearly 53 mV at a clock-frequency of 15 GHz combined with a test array of 3000 Josephson junctions. As for the two-stage single-section Wilkinson power divider combined with a test array of 6000 Josephson junctions, we synthesized RMS output voltages of about 105 mV. These test results show a promising prospect for quantum voltage standard applications.