An optically tunable optoelectronic oscillator (OEO) with a wide frequency tunable range incorporating a tunable microwave photonic filter implemented based on phase-modulation to intensity-modulation conversion using a phase-shifted fiber Bragg grating (PS-FBG) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The PS-FBG in conjunction with two optical phase modulators in the OEO loop form a high-Q, wideband and frequency-tunable microwave photonic bandpass filter, to achieve simultaneously single-frequency selection and frequency tuning. Since the tuning of the microwave filter is achieved by tuning the wavelength of the incident light wave, the tunability can be easily realized at a high speed. A theoretical analysis is performed, which is verified by an experiment. A microwave signal with a frequency tunable from 3 GHz to 28 GHz is generated. To the best of our knowledge, this is the widest frequency tunable range ever achieved by an OEO. The phase noise performance of the OEO is also investigated.

A Wideband Frequency Tunable Optoelectronic Oscillator Incorporating a Tunable Microwave Photonic Filter Based on Phase-Modulation to Intensity-Modulation Conversion Using a Phase-Shifted Fiber Bragg Grating

In this paper, major photonic microwave generation and modulation methods are described. Their advantages and limitations are identified and compared through the analysis of the key characteristics relevant to practical photonic microwave applications. The focus of this paper is on the photonic microwave based on the nonlinear dynamics of optically injected semiconductor lasers. Both single-beam optically injected semiconductor lasers and dual-beam optically injected semiconductor lasers are considered. In particular, the three dynamic states of stable injection locking, period-one oscillation, and period-two oscillation are considered and demonstrated for photonic microwave generation, modulation, and conversion applications. Several prospects for future research and development in this area are discussed.

Photonic Microwave Applications of the Dynamics of Semiconductor Lasers

The broad bandwidth and low loss offered by modern photonics have led to an ever-increasing interest in the design and implementation of photonically assisted systems for the genera- tion, processing, control and distribution of microwave signals, an area called microwave photonics. In this article, a tutorial on microwave photonics is presented with an emphasis on photonic true-time delay beamforming, radio-over-fiber and UWB-over- fiber distribution and photonic analog-to-digital conversion.

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A Tutorial on Microwave Photonics

Besides distinct features on RF/optical signal generation, optoelectronic oscillators (OEOs) have also been rapidly developed as emerging techniques towards sensing, measurement, and detection. In this paper, we start with the conceptual architecture and the analytical model of OEOs. Then, three operation principles behind sensing, measurement, and detection applications are categorized, including the variation on the time delay of loop, the passband reconfiguration of microwave photonic filter in loop, and the oscillation gain from injection locking, which clearly clarify the X-to-frequency mapping (X denotes target parameter or signal) for supporting practical solutions and approaches. Next, a comprehensive review to advances in OEO-based sensing, measurement, and detection applications is presented, including length change and distance measurement, refractive index estimation, load and strain sensing, temperature and acoustic sensing, optical clock recovery, and low-power RF signal detection. As a new application example, a novel approach for in-line position finding is proposed. When a long fiber Bragg grating inserted into OEO is locally heated to slightly broaden its reflection spectrum, the target position heated is mapped into the oscillating frequency shift, according to the first operation principle. A sensitivity of 254.66 kHz/cm is obtained for position finding in the experiment. Afterward, solutions for calibration and stabilization are briefly introduced, which enable us to improve the accuracy and reliability. Finally, features and future prospects on the sensing, measurement, and detection applications are discussed, such as compact and integrated OEOs.

Optoelectronic Oscillators (OEOs) to Sensing, Measurement, and Detection

An optically tunable optoelectronic oscillator (OEO) implemented by employing a two-port optical phase modulator without using any electronic microwave filters is proposed and experimentally demonstrated The key device in the system is the two-port phase modulator, which functions, in conjunction with a dispersive element in the loop, to form a high-Q microwave filter to perform microwave frequency selection The central frequency of the microwave filter is a function of the optical wavelength and the chromatic dispersion of the dispersive element, therefore, the oscillation frequency can be simply tuned by tuning the wavelength of the laser source or the chromatic dispersion of the dispersive element A theoretical analysis is provided, which is verified by experiments The phase noise performance and the frequency tunability are both experimentally investigated

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An Optically Tunable Optoelectronic Oscillator

A dual loop optoelectronic oscillator (OEO) is able to effectively suppress the sidemodes in each single loop. In this paper, a dual-loop OEO scheme is reported. By utilizing a polarization-beam splitter and a polarization-beam combiner, the two loops are directly joined in the optical domain without adding any active electrical device. The laser's phase-to-intensity noise is discussed. We present free-running experimental results, which show a phase noise of -109 dBc/Hz at 10kHz away from the carrier (12 GHz) and a Q value of 1010 with a sidemode suppression ratio of 60 dB, which is improved by 30-50dB in the experimental comparison. Meanwhile, the experimental comparison indicates that no significant noise is introduced by this configuration

Wang Yao-Tian

Papers

An Optical Domain Combined Dual-Loop Optoelectronic Oscillator