Microwave Photonic Signal Processing with Dynamic Reconfigurability

An optical beamforming network that uses an uncooled Fabry-Perot laser is demonstrated. This is achieved by using a fast-scanning, high-resolution optical spectrum analyzer to track the frequency and power shift of the uncooled laser, and then reconfiguring a programmable Fourier-domain optical processor to provide compensation. In this way, the need for temperature control of the laser is eliminated, and the number of optical sources is reduced by using the output spectral lines of the laser. The system realizes six wideband microwave photonic phase shifters, and the resulting magnitude and phase responses vary within a 2σ deviation of 6.1dB and 14.8°, respectively, even when the laser current is changed during measurement. A microwave photonic filter is presented based on a feedback structure, which uses a Fourier-domain optical processor as the control element and the fast-scanning optical spectrum analyzer as the feedback component. This system provides low-pass RF response. Experimental results demonstrate a 6-tap microwave photonic filter with a free spectral range of 2.5GHz. The power fluctuation of the first-order passband in RF response is within ±1dB over 20 minutes. A novel tunable all-optical microwave photonic mixer is presented based on serial phase modulation and an on-chip notch filter. The notch filter breaks the out-of-phase symmetry between the upper and lower sidebands generated from phase modulation, resulting in bandpass response of frequency selection. This system is achieved through an all-optical approach, which does not require electrical components, thus increasing the operation bandwidth of the system. The tunability of frequency selection is achieved through adjusting the wavelength of the optical source. Experimental results verify the technique with a 3rd-order SFDR of 91.7dBm/Hz2/3

Photonic RF signal processors

The purpose of this thesis is to explore the emerging possibilities of processing radiofrequency (RF) or microwave signals in optical domain, which will be a key technology to implement next-generation mobile communication systems and future optical networks. Research activities include design and modelling of novel photonic architectures for processing and filtering of RF, microwave and millimeter wave signals of the above mentioned applications. Investigations especially focus on two basic functions and critical requirements in advanced RF systems, namely: • Interference mitigation and high Q tunable filters. • Arbitrary filter transfer function generation. The thesis begins with a review on several state-of-the-art architectures of in-fiber RF signal processing and related key optical technologies. The unique capabilities offered by in-fiber RF signal processors for processing ultra wide-band, high-frequency signals directly in optical domain make them attractive options for applications in optical networks and wide-band microwave signal processing. However, the principal drawbacks which have been demonstrated so far in the in-fiber RF signal processors arc their inflexible or expensive schemes to set tap weights and time delay. Laser coherence effects also limit sampling frequency and introduce additional phase-induced intensity noise

High performance photonic microwave filters based on a 50GHz optical soliton crystal Kerr micro-comb

We demonstrate a photonic radio frequency (RF) transversal filter based on an integrated optical micro-comb source featuring a record low free spectral range of 49 GHz yielding 80 micro-comb lines across the C-band. This record-high number of taps, or wavelengths for the transversal filter results in significantly increased performance including a QRF factor more than four times higher than previous results. Further, by employing both positive and negative taps, an improved out-of-band rejection of up to 48.9 dB is demonstrated using Gaussian apodization, together with a tunable centre frequency covering the RF spectra range, with a widely tunable 3-dB bandwidth and versatile dynamically adjustable filter shapes. Our experimental results match well with theory, showing that our transversal filter is a competitive solution to implement advanced adaptive RF filters with broad operational bandwidths, high frequency selectivity, high reconfigurability, and potentially reduced cost and footprint. This approach is promising for applications in modern radar and communications systems.Comment: 19 pages, 12 figures, 107 reference

Microwave Photonic Signal Processing Using On-Chip Nonlinear Optics

The field of microwave photonics (MWP) emerged as a solution to the challenges faced by electronic systems when dealing with high-bandwidth RF and microwave signals. Photonic devices are capable of handling immense bandwidths thanks to the properties of light. MWP therefore employs such devices to process and distribute the information carried by RF and microwave signals, enabling significantly higher capacity compared to conventional electronics. The photonic devices traditionally used in MWP circuits have mainly comprised bulky components, such as spools of fibre and benchtop optical amplifiers. While achieving impressive performance, these systems were not capable of competing with electronics in terms of size and portability. More recently, research has focused on the application of photonic chip technology to the field of MWP in order to reap the benefits of integration, such as reductions in size, weight, cost, and power consumption. Integrated MWP however is still in its infancy, and ongoing research efforts are exploring new ways to match integrated photonic devices to the unique requirements of MWP circuits. This work investigates the application of on-chip nonlinear optical interactions to MWP. Nonlinear optics enables light-on-light interactions (not normally possible in a linear regime) which open a vast array of powerful functionalities. In particular, this thesis focuses on stimulated Brillouin scattering, resulting from the interaction of light with hypersonic sound waves, and four-wave mixing, where photons exchange energies. These two nonlinear effects are applied to implement MWP ultra-high suppression notch filters, wideband phase shifters, and ultra-fast instantaneous frequency measurement systems. Experimental demonstrations using integrated optical waveguides confirm record results

Microwave Photonic Signal Processing Using On-Chip Nonlinear Optics

The field of microwave photonics (MWP) emerged as a solution to the challenges faced by electronic systems when dealing with high-bandwidth RF and microwave signals. Photonic devices are capable of handling immense bandwidths thanks to the properties of light. MWP therefore employs such devices to process and distribute the information carried by RF and microwave signals, enabling significantly higher capacity compared to conventional electronics. The photonic devices traditionally used in MWP circuits have mainly comprised bulky components, such as spools of fibre and benchtop optical amplifiers. While achieving impressive performance, these systems were not capable of competing with electronics in terms of size and portability. More recently, research has focused on the application of photonic chip technology to the field of MWP in order to reap the benefits of integration, such as reductions in size, weight, cost, and power consumption. Integrated MWP however is still in its infancy, and ongoing research efforts are exploring new ways to match integrated photonic devices to the unique requirements of MWP circuits. This work investigates the application of on-chip nonlinear optical interactions to MWP. Nonlinear optics enables light-on-light interactions (not normally possible in a linear regime) which open a vast array of powerful functionalities. In particular, this thesis focuses on stimulated Brillouin scattering, resulting from the interaction of light with hypersonic sound waves, and four-wave mixing, where photons exchange energies. These two nonlinear effects are applied to implement MWP ultra-high suppression notch filters, wideband phase shifters, and ultra-fast instantaneous frequency measurement systems. Experimental demonstrations using integrated optical waveguides confirm record results

Advances in Optical Amplifiers

Optical amplifiers play a central role in all categories of fibre communications systems and networks. By compensating for the losses exerted by the transmission medium and the components through which the signals pass, they reduce the need for expensive and slow optical-electrical-optical conversion. The photonic gain media, which are normally based on glass- or semiconductor-based waveguides, can amplify many high speed wavelength division multiplexed channels simultaneously. Recent research has also concentrated on wavelength conversion, switching, demultiplexing in the time domain and other enhanced functions. Advances in Optical Amplifiers presents up to date results on amplifier performance, along with explanations of their relevance, from leading researchers in the field. Its chapters cover amplifiers based on rare earth doped fibres and waveguides, stimulated Raman scattering, nonlinear parametric processes and semiconductor media. Wavelength conversion and other enhanced signal processing functions are also considered in depth. This book is targeted at research, development and design engineers from teams in manufacturing industry, academia and telecommunications service operators

High-Performance On-Chip Microwave Photonic Signal Processing Using Linear and Nonlinear Optics

Manipulating and processing radio-frequency (RF) signals using integrated photonic devices has recently emerged as a paradigm-shifting technology for future microwave applications. This emerging technique is referred to as integrated microwave photonics (IMWP) which enables the high-frequency processing and unprecedentedly wideband tunability in compact photonic circuits, with significantly enhanced stability and robustness. However, to find widespread applications, the performance of IMWP devices must meet or exceed the achievable performance of conventional electronic counterparts. The work presented in this thesis investigates high-performance IMWP signal processing from two aspects: the optimized IMWP processing schemes and the photonic integration. Firstly, we explore novel schemes to improve the performance of chip-based microwave photonic subsystems, such as RF delay lines and RF filters which are basic building blocks of RF systems. A phase amplification technique is demonstrated to achieve a Si3N4 chip-based RF time delay with a delay tuning speed at gigahertz level. A new scheme to achieve an all-optimized RF photonic notch filter is demonstrated, producing a record-high RF link performance and complete functionalities. To unlock the potential of RF signal processing, we investigate a new filter concept of pairing linear and nonlinear optics for a high-performance RF photonic filter. To reduce the footprint of the novel IMWP filter, the photonic integration of both the ring resonators and Brillouin-active circuits on the same photonic chip is achieved. To eliminate the use of integrated optical circulators for on-chip SBS, on-chip backward inter-modal stimulated Brillouin scattering is predicted and experimentally demonstrated in a Si-Chalcogenide hybrid integrated photonic platform. The study and demonstrations presented in this thesis make the first viable step towards high-performance IMWP signal processing for real-world RF applications

Photonic Vector Processing Techniques for Radiofrequency Signals

[EN] The processing of radiofrequency signals using photonics means is a discipline that appeared almost at the same time as the laser and the optical fibre. Photonics offers the capability of managing broadband radiofrequency (RF) signals thanks to its low transmission attenuation, a variety of linear and non-linear phenomena and, recently, the potential to implement integrated photonic subsystems. These features open the door for the implementation of multiple functionalities including optical transportation, up and down frequency conversion, optical RF filtering, signal multiplexing, de-multiplexing, routing and switching, optical sampling, tone generation, delay control, beamforming and photonic generation of digital modulations, and even a combination of several of these functionalities. This thesis is focused on the application of vector processing in the optical domain to radiofrequency signals in two fields of application: optical beamforming, and photonic vector modulation and demodulation of digital quadrature amplitude modulations. The photonic vector control enables to adjust the amplitude and phase of the radiofrequency signals in the optical domain, which is the fundamental processing that is required in different applications such as beamforming networks for direct radiating array (DRA) antennas and multilevel quadrature modulation. The work described in this thesis include different techniques for implementing a photonic version of beamforming networks for direct radiating arrays (DRA) known as optical beamforming networks (OBFN), with the objectives of providing a precise control in terrestrial applications of broadband signals at very high frequencies above 40 GHz in communication antennas, optimizing the size and mass when compared with the electrical counterparts in space application, and presenting new photonic-based OBFN functionalities. Thus, two families of OBFNs are studied: fibre-based true time delay architectures and integrated networks. The first allow the control of broadband signals using dispersive optical fibres with wavelength division multiplexing techniques and advanced functionalities such as direction of arrival estimation in receiving architectures. In the second, passive OBFNs based on monolithically-integrated Optical Butler Matrices are studied, including an ultra-compact solution using optical heterodyne techniques in silicon-on-insulator (SOI) material, and an alternative implementing a homodyne counterpart in germanium doped silica material. In this thesis, the application of photonic vector processing to the generation of quadrature digital modulations has also been investigated. Multilevel modulations are based on encoding digital information in discrete states of phase and amplitude of an electrical signal to enhance spectral efficiency, as for instance, in quadrature modulation. The signal process required for generating and demodulating this kind of signals involves vector processing (phase and amplitude control) and frequency conversion. Unlike the common electronic or digital implementation, in this thesis, different photonic based signal processing techniques are studied to produce digital modulation (photonic vector modulation, PVM) and demodulation (PVdM). These techniques are of particular interest in the case of broadband signals where the data rate required to be managed is in the order of gigabit per second, for applications like wireless backhauling of metro optical networks (known as fibre-to-the-air). The techniques described use optical dispersion in optical fibres, wavelength division multiplexing and photonic up/down conversion. Additionally, an optical heterodyne solution implemented monolithically in a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is also described.[ES] El procesamiento de señales de radiofrecuencia (RF) utilizando medios fotónicos es una disciplina que apareció casi al mismo tiempo que el láser y la fibra óptica. La fotónica ofrece la capacidad de manipular señales de radiofrecuencia de banda ancha, una baja atenuación, procesados basados en una amplia variedad de fenómenos lineales y no lineales y, recientemente, el potencial para implementar subsistemas fotónicos integrados. Estas características ofrecen un gran potencial para la implementación de múltiples funcionalidades incluyendo transporte óptico, conversión de frecuencia, filtrado óptico de RF, multiplexación y demultiplexación de señales, encaminamiento y conmutación, muestreo óptico, generación de tonos, líneas de retardo, conformación de haz en agrupaciones de antenas o generación fotónica de modulaciones digitales, e incluso una combinación de varias de estas funcionalidades. Esta tesis se centra en la aplicación del procesamiento vectorial en el dominio óptico de señales de radiofrecuencia en dos campos de aplicación: la conformación óptica de haces y la modulación y demodulación vectorial fotónica de señales digitales en cuadratura. El control fotónico vectorial permite manipular la amplitud y fase de las señales de radiofrecuencia en el dominio óptico, que es el procesamiento fundamental que se requiere en diferentes aplicaciones tales como las redes de conformación de haces para agrupaciones de antenas y en la modulación en cuadratura. El trabajo descrito en esta tesis incluye diferentes técnicas para implementar una versión fotónica de las redes de conformación de haces de en agrupaciones de antenas, conocidas como redes ópticas de conformación de haces (OBFN). Se estudian dos familias de redes: arquitecturas de retardo en fibra óptica y arquitecturas integradas. Las primeras permiten el control de señales de banda ancha utilizando fibras ópticas dispersivas con técnicas de multiplexado por división de longitud de onda y funcionalidades avanzadas tales como la estimación del ángulo de llegada de la señal en la antena receptora. En la segunda, se estudian redes de conformación pasivas basadas en Matrices de Butler ópticas integradas, incluyendo una solución ultra-compacta utilizando técnicas ópticas heterodinas en silicio sobre aislante (SOI), y una alternativa homodina en sílice dopado con germanio. En esta tesis, también se han investigado técnicas de procesado vectorial fotónico para la generación de modulaciones digitales en cuadratura. Las modulaciones multinivel codifican la información digital en estados discretos de fase y amplitud de una señal eléctrica para aumentar su eficiencia espectral, como por ejemplo la modulación en cuadratura. El procesado necesario para generar y demodular este tipo de señales implica el procesamiento vectorial (control de amplitud y fase) y la conversión de frecuencia. A diferencia de la implementación electrónica o digital convencional, en esta tesis se estudian diferentes técnicas de procesado fotónico tanto para la generación de modulaciones digitales (modulación vectorial fotónica, PVM) como para su demodulación (PVdM). Esto es de particular interés en el caso de señales de banda ancha, donde la velocidad de datos requerida es del orden de gigabits por segundo, para aplicaciones como backhaul inalámbrico de redes ópticas metropolitanas (conocida como fibra hasta el aire). Las técnicas descritas se basan en explotar la dispersión cromática de la fibra óptica, la multiplexación por división de longitud de onda y la conversión en frecuencia. Además, se presenta una solución heterodina implementada monolíticamente en un circuito integrado fotónico (PIC).[CA] El processament de senyals de radiofreqüència (RF) utilitzant mitjans fotònics és una disciplina que va aparèixer gairebé al mateix temps que el làser i la fibra òptica. La fotònica ofereix la capacitat de manipular senyals de radiofreqüència de banda ampla, una baixa atenuació, processats basats en una àmplia varietat de fenòmens lineals i no lineals i, recentment, el potencial per implementar subsistemes fotònics integrats. Aquestes característiques ofereixen un gran potencial per a la implementació de múltiples funcionalitats incloent transport òptic, conversió de freqüència, filtrat òptic de RF, multiplexació i demultiplexació de senyals, encaminament i commutació, mostreig òptic, generació de tons, línies de retard, conformació de feix en agrupacions d'antenes i la generació fotònica de modulacions digitals, i fins i tot una combinació de diverses d'aquestes funcionalitats. Aquesta tesi es centra en l'aplicació del processament vectorial en el domini òptic de senyals de radiofreqüència en dos camps d'aplicació: la conformació òptica de feixos i la modulació i demodulació vectorial fotònica de senyals digitals en quadratura. El control fotònic vectorial permet manipular l'amplitud i la fase dels senyals de radiofreqüència en el domini òptic, que és el processament fonamental que es requereix en diferents aplicacions com ara les xarxes de conformació de feixos per agrupacions d'antenes i en modulació multinivell. El treball descrit en aquesta tesi inclou diferents tècniques per implementar una versió fotònica de les xarxes de conformació de feixos en agrupacions d'antenes, conegudes com a xarxes òptiques de conformació de feixos (OBFN), amb els objectius de proporcionar un control precís en aplicacions terrestres de senyals de banda ampla a freqüències molt altes per sobre de 40 GHz en antenes de comunicacions, optimitzant la mida i el pes quan es compara amb els homòlegs elèctrics en aplicacions espacials, i la presentació de noves funcionalitats fotòniques per agrupacions d'antenes. Per tant, s'estudien dues famílies de OBFNs: arquitectures de retard en fibra òptica i arquitectures integrades. Les primeres permeten el control de senyals de banda ampla utilitzant fibres òptiques dispersives amb tècniques de multiplexació per divisió en longitud d'ona i funcionalitats avançades com ara l'estimació de l'angle d'arribada del senyal a l'antena receptora. A la segona, s'estudien xarxes de conformació passives basades en Matrius de Butler òptiques en fotònica integrada, incloent una solució ultra-compacta utilitzant tècniques òptiques heterodinas en silici sobre aïllant (SOI), i una alternativa homodina en sílice dopat amb germani. D'altra banda, també s'ha investigat en aquesta tesi tècniques de processament vectorial fotònic per a la generació de modulacions digitals en quadratura. Les modulacions multinivell codifiquen la informació digital en estats discrets de fase i amplitud d'un senyal elèctric per augmentar la seva eficiència espectral, com ara la modulació en quadratura. El processat necessari per generar i desmodular aquest tipus de senyals implica el processament vectorial (control d'amplitud i fase) i la conversió de freqüència. A diferència de la implementació electrònica o digital convencional, en aquesta tesi s'estudien diferents tècniques de processament fotònic tant per a la generació de modulacions digitals (modulació vectorial fotònica, PVM) com per la seva demodulació (PVdM). Això és de particular interès en el cas de senyals de banda ampla, on la velocitat de dades requerida és de l'ordre de gigabits per segon, per a aplicacions com backhaul sense fils de xarxes òptiques metropolitanes (coneguda com fibra fins l'aire). Les tècniques descrites es basen en explotar la dispersió cromàtica de la fibra òptica, la multiplexació per divisió en longitud d'ona i la conversió en freqüència. A més, es presePiqueras Ruipérez, MÁ. (2016). Photonic Vector Processing Techniques for Radiofrequency Signals [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/63264TESI