Studying Microwave-Photonic Frequency Up-Conversion for Telecom and Measurement Equipment

Abstract

An ultra-wideband frequency converter scheme for microwave and millimeter-wave signal generation based on optical RF recirculating loop and microwave-photonics technique, is proposed and demonstrated. The scheme consists of standard, commercially available elements such as dual parallel Mach-Zehnder modulator, optical filter and wideband photodiode and does not require high frequency RF components. Recirculating loop acts as a frequency comb generator and allows to obtain multiple local oscillator signals at frequencies that significantly higher than the reference used. Signals of frequencies in mm-wave band are demonstrated experimentally with spectrum that is free of spurious products. The converter proposed could be used as an alternative solution to microwave mixers in telecom and measurement equipment.