Reconfigurable photonic binary phase-coded microwave signal generator with fundamental/subharmonic carrier frequency.

Area of Science:

• Photonics
• Microwave Engineering
• Signal Generation

Background:

• Traditional microwave signal generators often lack reconfigurability and tunability.
• Photonic approaches offer potential for high-frequency signal generation and processing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and experimentally validate a reconfigurable photonic binary phase-coded microwave signal generator.
• To achieve fundamental and subharmonic carrier frequencies using a novel modulator setup.
• To demonstrate the system's suitability for radar detection of weak targets.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a dual-electrode dual parallel Mach-Zehnder modulator (DE-DPMZM) for signal generation.
• Employing intensity modulation for the local oscillator (LO) signal and phase modulation for the coding signal.
• Precisely controlling bias voltages and LO signal amplitude to eliminate light carriers and generate desired frequencies.

Main Results:

• Successfully generated binary phase-coded microwave signals at 6 GHz and 11 GHz.
• Achieved fundamental (LO frequency) and subharmonic (LO/2 frequency) outputs.
• Demonstrated high peak-to-sidelobe ratio, indicating excellent phase recovery and pulse compression capabilities.

Conclusions:

• The proposed photonic generator offers a simple structure, high reconfigurability, and good frequency tunability without optical filters.
• The system's performance is suitable for practical applications in radar detection.
• This work advances photonic solutions for advanced microwave signal generation.