Integrated MicroPhotonic wideband RF interference mitigation filter

MicroPhotonic broadband RF signal processors utilize true-time-delay methods to perform processing functions that cannot be achieved by conventional electronic methods. In addition to their small physical size and immunity to EMI, Photonic signal processors offer the possibility of delaying broadband RF signals with almost no loss. In this paper, we present a novel MicroPhotonic structure that integrates a photoreceiver array, a Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) array, and a multi-cavity optical substrate to realize a low-cost adaptive wideband RF interference mitigation filter. Results show that for a 64-cavity MicroPhotonic structure, high-resolution, tunable interference mitigation filter with a shape factor as low as 2 and passband ripples less than 0.25 dB can be realised.