A time-domain photonic arbitrary waveform generator

Opt Express. 2012 May 21;20(11):12631-9. doi: 10.1364/OE.20.012631.

Abstract

A time domain photonic arbitrary waveform generator (PAWG) scheme based on multi-wavelength optical differential quadrature phase shift keying modulation in combination with differential detection is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The time domain method shows advantages of large time-bandwidth product, good flexibility, fast waveform refreshing rate, and high waveform quality over the frequency domain method. In contrast with other proposed time domain PAWGs or photonic digital-to-analog converters, our PAWG proposal shows a greater dynamic range and a larger noise margin due to its bipolar output, and possesses good scalabilities both in resolution and sampling rate. Assisted with the integration technology, this PAWG presents a good prospect for broad range practical applications in future.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Photons
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / instrumentation*
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance / instrumentation*
  • Telecommunications / instrumentation*