Open AccessPhotonic measurement of microwave frequency based on phase modulation
Author(s) -
Junqiang Zhou,
Songnian Fu,
Perry Ping Shum,
Sheel Aditya,
Li Xia,
Jianqiang Li,
Xiaoqiang Sun,
Kun Xu
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.17.007217
Subject(s) - optics , microwave , phase modulation , photonics , signal (programming language) , frequency modulation , optical carrier transmission rates , amplitude modulation , photodetector , optical fiber , physics , phase noise , materials science , radio frequency , telecommunications , radio over fiber , computer science , quantum mechanics , programming language
A photonic approach for microwave frequency measurement is proposed. In this approach, an optical carrier is modulated by an unknown microwave signal through a phase modulator. The modulated optical signal is then split into two parts; one part passes through a spool of polarization maintaining fiber (PMF) and the other one, through a dispersion compensation fiber (DCF), to introduce different microwave power penalties. After the microwave powers of the two parts are measured by two photodetectors, a fixed frequency-to-power mapping is established by obtaining an amplitude comparison function (ACF). A proof-of-concept experiment demonstrates frequency measurement over a range of 10.5 GHz, with measurement error less than +/-0.07 GHz.