Open AccessHigh dynamic range single channel sampling of wideband RF signals using ultra‐fast nanoscale photoconductive switching
Author(s) -
TriponCanseliet C.,
Zegaoui M.,
Jestin G.,
Coi C.,
Berger P.,
Baili G.,
DescampsMandine A.,
Maksimovic I.,
Decoster D.,
Hodé J.M.,
Dolfi D.,
Chazelas J.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
electronics letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.375
H-Index - 146
ISSN - 1350-911X
DOI - 10.1049/el.2015.2418
Subject(s) - materials science , optoelectronics , microwave , dynamic range , gallium arsenide , photonics , jitter , photoconductivity , signal (programming language) , optics , telecommunications , physics , computer science , programming language
This Letter reports on new experimental high dynamic range sub‐sampling performances obtained from nanoscale microwave photoconductive switches operating under a 0.8 µm wavelength pulsed illumination. Experimental results have been performed on different samples benefiting of a low temperature grown Gallium Arsenide absorbing layer on GaAs substrate, coplanar microwave electrode profile optimisation, and the use of an ultra‐low noise jitter optical source delivering optical pulses of 1 to10 ps pulse width at a 2 GHz repetition frequency at 0.8 µm optical wavelength. Thanks to carrier lifetime tunability achievement from 1 to 20 ps, in association with a carrier mobility of 3900 cm²/V.s, experimental demonstrations of 54 and 45 dB signal‐to‐noise ratio microwave signal sampling for signals at 5,76 and 20 GHz frequency bandwidth respectively confirms submicron devices functionality as a new class of single channel photonic analogue to digital converters.