Photonic-assisted microwave spectrum sensing based on optical carrier-suppressed single-sideband modulation and coherent detection

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

A photonic-based approach for microwave spectrum sensing is proposed based on optical carrier-suppressed single-sideband (CS-SSB) modulation and coherent detection. Two dual-parallel Mach-Zehnder modulators (DP-MZMs) function as two CS-SSB modulators. A local oscillator (LO) signal with its frequency swept at a fixed step of Δf is applied to one DP-MZM, while the microwave signal to be detected is applied to the other DP-MZM. The two CS-SSB modulated optical signals from the two DP-MZMs are sent to a coherent receiver, which consists of a 90° optical hybrid and two balanced photodetectors. The two outputs of the coherent receiver are combined by a 90° electrical hybrid and filtered by an electrical low-pass filter with a bandwidth of Δf. Different frequency components in the unknown microwave signal are all frequency downconverted to within Δf and the signals in different frequency bands appear in different time periods, which can be used for spectrum sensing by sampling and processing the IF signal. In addition, due to the balanced detection, the direct current components are suppressed, and the frequency-swept LO signal only detects the microwave signal on its left or right side, avoiding the interference from the image frequency. To verify the proposed technique, spectrum sensing in a frequency range from 1 to 20 GHz is demonstrated by simulation.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationReal-Time Photonic Measurements, Data Management, and Processing IV
EditorsMing Li, Bahram Jalali, Mohammad Hossein Asghari
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781510631014
DOIs
StatePublished - 2019
EventReal-Time Photonic Measurements, Data Management, and Processing IV 2019 - Hangzhou, China
Duration: 22 Oct 201923 Oct 2019

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume11192
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Conference

ConferenceReal-Time Photonic Measurements, Data Management, and Processing IV 2019
Country/TerritoryChina
CityHangzhou
Period22/10/1923/10/19

Keywords

  • Carrier-suppressed single-sideband modulation
  • Coherent detection
  • Microwave photonics
  • Spectrum sensing

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