Abstract
A means of applying an adjustable RF phase shift over a broad band of
frequencies is a requirement of diverse application. Photonic solutions
to the generation of RF phase shifts have receive significant attention
for reasons of reduced cost, compactness and simplicity, yet the
achievement of a phase shift extending beyond 360˚ range remains a
challenge. The circuit architecture of a compact and broadband RF phase
shifter with unbounded range based on two parallel DP-MZM architecture
is presented and verified by simulation verification and emulated using
off the shelf low frequency electronic components. Results demonstrate
that the complex transmission of the phase shifter follows a trajectory
that may encircle the origin an arbitrary number of times in either
direction. The proposed architecture can be implemented using
commercially available DP-QPSK modulator or can be integrated in any
material platform that offers linear electro-optic phase modulators.