Title :
Microwave signal generation using self-heterodyning of a fast wavelength switching SG-DBR laser
Author :
Bernacil, Michael A. ; O´Connor, Shane ; Maher, Ben ; Dekelaita, Andrew ; Derickson, Dennis
Author_Institution :
California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), 1 Grand Avenue, San Luis Obispo, 93407, USA
Abstract :
Microwave signal generation using self-heterodyning of a single wavelength tunable SG-DBR laser is demonstrated. Microwave signals are established by quickly hopping back and forth between two optical wavelengths. These wavelengths are made time coincident through a delay line interferometer. The output of the interferometer is photodetected resulting in a CW microwave signal. This method does not require conventional master-slave laser configurations, external microwave drive sources, or a mode locked laser used to beat dual longitudinal modes. Microwave signals up to 12 GHz have been measured by frequency modulating the phase section of the SG-DBR laser with low frequency RF square wave input currents. Millimeter wave difference frequencies are easily available from the SG-DBR. Temperature robustness of SG-DBR self-heterodyne signals was also investigated. While each laser wavelength by itself changes by 0.12 nm/C (21 GHz/C), the difference frequency temperature coefficient is well less than 30 MHz/C typically.
Keywords :
distributed Bragg reflector lasers; frequency modulation; microwave measurement; signal generators; DBR laser; distributed Bragg reflector; fast wavelength switching; frequency 12 GHz; frequency modulation; interferometer; microwave signal generation; self-heterodyning; Delay lines; Frequency; Laser mode locking; Masers; Master-slave; Microwave generation; Optical interferometry; Signal generators; Temperature; Tunable circuits and devices; Distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) lasers; distributed feedback (DFB) lasers; microwave generation; microwave oscillators; millimeter wave generation; optical selfheterodyning; semiconductor lasers; wavelength tunable lasers;
Conference_Titel :
Microwave Symposium Digest, 2008 IEEE MTT-S International
Conference_Location :
Atlanta, GA
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-1780-3
Electronic_ISBN :
0149-645X
DOI :
10.1109/MWSYM.2008.4633238