Abstract
We show analytically and experimentally that direct photodetection of
a temporally-stretched and chirped optical pulse-train together with its time-delayed
replica can be exploited to realize the generation of tunable continuous-wave
microwave signals. The proposed scheme utilizes the chromatic dispersion of
the standard single-mode-fiber (SMF) to temporally-stretch and chirp an optical
pulse-train in such a way that the pulses overlap with each other. The temporally-stretched
pulse-train is then sent to a Mach–Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) where
it first splits and then recombines with a time-delayed replica of itself
at the output. Proper management of both the dispersion in the system as well
as the relative time-delay of the two arms of the MZI enables one to tune
the frequency of the generated microwave signal to any integer multiple of
the pulse source's repetition frequency which is within the bandwidth of the
photodetector. Based on the proposed scheme, using an initial 2 GHz pulse-train,
we demonstrate generation of tunable continuous-wave microwave signals from
4 GHz to 14 GHz.
© 2012 IEEE
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