RF and microwave photonic signal processing and generation with Kerr
optical micro-combs
Abstract
We demonstrate a radio frequency (RF) phase-encoded signal generator as
well as a user-defined RF arbitrary waveform generator (AWG) based on a
soliton crystal micro-comb generated by an integrated MRR with a free
spectral range of ~49 GHz. Owing to the soliton
crystal’s robust and stable generation as well as the high intrinsic
efficiency, RF phase-encoded signal generators and AWGs with simple
operation and fast reconfiguration are realized. The soliton crystal
micro-comb provides 60 wavelengths for RF phase-encoded signal
generators, achieving a phase encoding speed of 5.95 Gb/s and a high
pulse compression ratio of 29.6. Over 80 wavelengths are employed for
the AWGs, achieving tunable square waveforms with a duty cycle ratio
ranging from 10% to 90%, sawtooth waveforms with tunable slope ratios
from 0.2 to 1, and symmetric concave quadratic chirp waveforms. Our
system has great potential to achieve RF and microwave photonic signal
generation and processing with low cost and footprint.