Photonic microwave time delay using nonlinear dynamics of semiconductor lasers
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Title of Invention |
Photonic microwave time delay using nonlinear dynamics of semiconductor lasers |
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Technology
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Time delays of microwave signals have been considered a key functionality for wireless communication adopting broadband phased array antennas and for microwave signal processing requiring reconfigurable microwave filters. Photonic approaches provide various promising advantages over electronic counterparts for such a functionality, such as wide instantaneous bandwidth, broad and continuous delay tunability, high reconfigurability, low loss, light weight, small size, and immunity to electromagnetic interference. The photonic approach proposed here takes advantage of the slow- and fast-light effects induced by external optical injection in a semiconductor laser operating at either period-one dynamics or stable locking dynamics for such a functionality. Only a typical semiconductor laser is needed as the key component. The proposed system is capable of operation for microwave signals ranging from a few GHz up to hundreds of GHz. Continuously and widely tunable microwave time delays is achievable through simple all-optical adjustments of the optical injection conditions. A broad instantaneous bandwidth of 7 GHz or higher is achievable. While the time delay of a microwave signal is varied through such an operation, the power of the microwave signal is also amplified. In addition, a spectral feature of optical single-sideband modulation is formed after the operation. |
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Benefits |
The photonic approach proposed here takes advantage of the slow- and fast-light effects induced by external optical injection in a semiconductor laser operating at either period-one dynamics or stable locking dynamics for microwave time delay. Only a typical semiconductor laser is needed as the key component, making it highly possible to minimize the system through the technique based on photonic integrated circuits. The proposed system is capable of such an operation for microwave signals ranging from a few GHz up to hundreds of GHz, making it highly suitable for applications adopting high-frequency microwave signals. Continuously and widely tunable microwave time delays is achievable through simple all-optical adjustments of operating conditions, making it highly feasible to enhance the range of beam pointing direction and resolution when the system is used for phased-array antenna applications. A broad instantaneous bandwidth of, for example, at least 7 GHz is achievable, making the system highly feasible for applications requiring high data bandwidth. While the time delay of a microwave signal is varied through such an operation, the power of the microwave signal is also amplified, thus increasing detection sensitivity and transmission distance. In addition, a spectral feature of optical single-sideband modulation is formed after the operation, making the optically carried microwave signal suitable for long distance distribution through optical fibers without worrying about microwave power fading. |
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Possible Applications/ Industry Categories |
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Contact Information |
Technology Transfer and Business Incubation Center, NCKU Contact person：Yi-Yin, Lin E-mail：ainlin@mail.ncku.edu.tw |