Photonic techniques for wideband signal processing

Abstract

The advantages of using the broadband and low-loss distribution attributes of photonics to enhance the sensing capabilities of microwave systems are well known. In this talk, we review the salient features of photonics that allow them to make unique contributions towards ultra-wideband signal processing. A key component used in the RF-photonic links of these applications is the electro-optic modulator (EOM), typically of the Mach Zehnder (MZ) design. We first present, in Section 2, an optical sideband measurement approach(2) that allows us to characterize the microwave response and RF-V of MZ EOMs at frequencies beyond those supported by current swept-frequency instrumentation. In Sections 3 and 4, we summarize, respectively, the progress made in the topical areas of wideband photonic-assisted analog-to-digital conversion (ADC) and RF-photonic filtering.