Photonic implementation of an instantaneous frequency measurement

With the rapid and ongoing developments in telecommunication and electronic warfare technology, faster and more flexible systems are in demand. Wideband signal processing is thus needed to implement such systems. Microwave photonics has been introduced as a tool for achieving such ultra broadband signal processing. Instantaneous Frequency Measurement (IFM) receivers play an important role in electronic warfare. They have been developed as a means of obtaining a rapid indication of the presence of a threat and to roughly identify the frequency of the threat signals. They also have the advantages of low-cost, compactness and moderate to good sorting capability in an interference-free environment. The main limitation of the traditional RF IFM receivers is constrained bandwidth. Microwave Photonic IFMs have been considered, but the main disadvantages of photonic realization of the recent IFM receiver is cost. This work aims to propose and demonstrate low-cost photonic IFM receivers with a broad frequency measurement range. The proposed methods are based on the use of photonic mixing to down-convert the RF modulated optical signals to DC. In a RADAR warning receiver, usually a bank of IFMs is required. Increasing the numbers of IFMs requires an increase in the number of photo-detectors. Thus if low-frequency, low-cost detectors can be used, then the net system cost will be reduced significantly. The concept is proven and the issues arising are analyzed. In the proof of concept system, measurement of the RF frequency required advance knowledge of the RF power. Secondly, the use of co-axial RF cables as delay elements limited the bandwidth and increased bulk. Using a photonic hybrid approach to achieve orthogonal measurements was demonstrated as a means of dentifying both RF frequency and power simultaneously and independently. Employing all optical mixing removed the need for co-axial RF cables delays using non-linear optical devices such as Semiconductor Optical Amplifier (SOA) and Highly Non-Linear Fiber (HLNF). The last investigation is to improve the sensitivity of the implemented IFM system. The sensitivity of the implemented system is characterized first and a lock-in technique is employed to improve the sensitivity of the system. The final system achieves a sensitivity of -41 dBm which is comparable with the traditional RF IFM receivers

RF photonic instantaneous frequency measurement using DC photo-detection

A microwave photonic instantaneous frequency measurement (IFM) system based on a photonic transversal approach and DC-detection is proposed and practically demonstrated. This system is able to measure the RF frequency and power level independently

Two output RF hybrid coupler using photonic transversal approach

A novel technique to implement a two output broad band RF hybrid coupler based on transversal signal processing is proposed and practically demonstrated. It features broadband frequency range, stable phase difference at outputs, 50 ohm input/output impedance, and low noise characteristics. This technique is suitable for non-coherent optic implementation

Photonic instantaneous frequency measurement using non-linear optical mixing

In this paper we propose and demonstrate a photonically implemented instantaneous frequency measurement system. This system uses two differentially delayed modulated optical carriers that are mixed using a semiconductor optical amplifier. The output of the system includes a DC component that varies as a function of frequency. This can be used for frequency measurement using a low-cost DC photo-detector. Operation is demonstrated from 2-20 GHz

Amplitude independent RF instantaneous frequency measurement system using photonic Hilbert transform

A photonic instantaneous frequency measurement system capable of measuring both RF frequency and power simultaneously, is conceived and practically demonstrated. This system employs an RF photonic Hilbert transformer together with low-cost, low-frequency photo-detectors to obtain two orthogonal DC measurements. This system exhibits a frequency range of 1-10 GHz. Wider frequency range can be achieved through integration

Wideband RF photonic in-phase and quadrature-phase generation

A photonic implementation of a practical broadband RF Hilbert transformer is demonstrated by using a four-tap transversal system. An almost ideal 90° phase shift with less than 3 dB of amplitude ripple has been achieved from 2.4 to 17.6 GHz. An efficient method to realize both transformed (quadrature-phase) and reference (in-phase) signal has been achieved by using a coarse wavelength division multiplexing coupler. Extension of the transformer bandwidth and further improvements of its implementation are discussed

Reduced cost photonic instantaneous frequency measurement system

A wideband photonic instantaneous frequency measurement system is proposed and practically demonstrated. This system employs only a low-frequency inexpensive photodetector and thus the system cost is reduced

Low-cost RF frequency measurement using photonic approach

A technique to implement frequency measurement photonically using only low-cost DC photodetectors is proposed and a proof of concept implementation is practically demonstrated. Techniques to further reduce cost and extend bandwidth are proposed

Instantaneous frequency measurement system using optical mixing in highly nonlinear fiber

A broadband photonic instantaneous frequency measurement system utilizing four-wave mixing in highly nonlinear fiber is demonstrated. This new approach is highly stable and does not require any high-speed electronics or photodetectors. A first principles model accurately predicts the system response. Frequency measurement responses from 1 to 40 GHz are demonstrated and simple reconfiguration allows the system to operate over multiple bands

Hybrid dispersion laser scanner.

Laser scanning technology is one of the most integral parts of today's scientific research, manufacturing, defense, and biomedicine. In many applications, high-speed scanning capability is essential for scanning a large area in a short time and multi-dimensional sensing of moving objects and dynamical processes with fine temporal resolution. Unfortunately, conventional laser scanners are often too slow, resulting in limited precision and utility. Here we present a new type of laser scanner that offers ∼1,000 times higher scan rates than conventional state-of-the-art scanners. This method employs spatial dispersion of temporally stretched broadband optical pulses onto the target, enabling inertia-free laser scans at unprecedented scan rates of nearly 100 MHz at 800 nm. To show our scanner's broad utility, we use it to demonstrate unique and previously difficult-to-achieve capabilities in imaging, surface vibrometry, and flow cytometry at a record 2D raster scan rate of more than 100 kHz with 27,000 resolvable points