Radio frequency passband signal generation using photonics

Abstract

Devices, methods and systems for generating wideband, high-fidelity arbitrary radio frequency (RF) passband signals are described. A voltage tunable optical filter for arbitrary RF passband signal generation includes a first input configured to receive a broadband optical pulse train, a second input configured to receive a first control voltage representative of an amplitude signal, an electrooptic modulator to receive the broadband optical pulse train and the first control voltage, to modulate the broadband optical pulse train in accordance with the amplitude signal, and to produce two complementary optical outputs that form two arms of an interferometer, an optical delay component to impart an optical path difference into one of the complementary outputs of the electrooptic modulator, and a combiner or a splitter to receive two complementary optical outputs of the electrooptic modulator after impartation of the optical path difference and to produce an output interference pattern of fringes.