Open AccessPhotonic arbitrary waveform generation based on the temporal Talbot effect
Author(s) -
Hao Chi,
Shanyi Wang,
Shuna Yang,
Yanrong Zhai,
Xihua Zou,
Bo Yang,
Qiliang Li
Publication year - 2021
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.425209
Subject(s) - waveform , sideband , talbot effect , optics , fourier transform , signal (programming language) , modulation (music) , computer science , time domain , photonics , pulse shaping , frequency modulation , physics , algorithm , telecommunications , bandwidth (computing) , radar , acoustics , grating , radio frequency , laser , quantum mechanics , computer vision , programming language
In this paper, we propose a novel photonic approach for generating arbitrary waveform. The approach is based on the property of real-time Fourier transform in the temporal Talbot effect, where the spectrum of the modulating analog signal is converted into the output time-domain waveform in each period. We present a concise and strict theoretical framework to reveal the relationship of real-time Fourier transform between the optical signals before and after the dispersion. A proof-of-concept experiment is implemented to validate the presented theoretical model. We propose to generate symmetrical or asymmetrical arbitrary waveforms by using double-sideband or single-sideband modulation, respectively, which is verified by simulation results. It is shown that the given approach can be used to generate a repetition-rate multiplied optical pulse train with arbitrary waveform by simply using a multi-tone RF signal with appropriate frequencies and powers.