Trends in microwave photonic network analysers

The increasing use of microwave photonic components in applications such as optical generation, distribution and processing of microwave signals, antenna beam forming and optical control of microwave devices has brought a corresponding need for accurate component characterisation. In particular, new tools will be required for the measurement of fundamental quantities such as the microwave frequency response, bandwidth, gain and return loss of microwave photonic components. However, existing approaches to microwave photonic network analysis are primitive when compared with conventional microwave network analysis. This paper will provide a review of the theory and techniques used for microwave photonic component characterisation. State-of-the-art architectures for microwave photonic component network analysers and the corresponding optical calibration techniques that have been developed at The University of Leeds are described