A 6 to 11 GHz all-optical image rejection microwave downconverter

Abstract

An all-optical image-rejection downconverter capable of downconverting 6-11 GHz RF signals into an IF band from 2 to 3 GHz is presented. RF signals received by the system are used to generate new optical wavelengths. These new wavelengths are filtered and used to downconvert the RF signals into the IF band through heterodyne detection. The system exhibited better than 20 dB of image rejection over its bandwidth and the spurious signals were more than 40 dB below the downconverted signal power.