A MZI-based photonic instantaneous microwave frequency measurement simplified by an optical polarizer

A novel photonic scheme of microwave signal frequency measurement with adjustable measurement range and resolution is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The proposed scheme is based on simultaneous optical phase modulation and intensity modulation with interferometric detection. A low-pass frequency response is achieved by a Mach–Zehnder interferometer (MZI) while a bandpass frequency response is produced by a polarizer placed on the back instead of in front of the MZI. The microwave frequency can be estimated by the measured amplitude comparison function (ACF) obtained from the ratio of the two frequency responses. This scheme is simple, cost-effective as it requires no extra laser sources or modulators in the basic analog modulation link. The measurement errors as shown in experimental results can be kept in 0.1 GHz over a frequency range of 0.1–8.5 GHz.     

A tunable and switchable single-longitudinal-mode dual-wavelength fiber laser incorporating a reconfigurable dual-pass Mach-Zehnder interferometer and its application in microwave generation

A tunable and switchable single-longitudinal-mode (SLM) dual-wavelength fiber laser incorporating a reconfigurable dual-pass Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) filter was proposed and demonstrated, which can be applied in microwave generation. By incorporating a high extinction ratio (ER) dual-pass MZI into an erbium-doped fiber ring cavity, SLM dual-wavelength lasing can be achieved even using a MZI with relatively little free spectrum range (FSR), and by beating the two wavelengths at a photodetector, a 9.76 GHz microwave signal with a 3-dB bandwidth of less than 10 kHz is obtained. Moreover, by direct linking the two outputs of the MZI, the high ER dual-pass MZI is easily reconfigured as a half FSR dual-pass MZI. Using this structure, switchable SLM dual-wavelength lasing can be conveniently realized.     

Photonic instantaneous measurement of microwave frequency using fiber Bragg grating

A photonic approach to realizing instantaneous measurement of microwave frequency based on optical monitoring using a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is proposed and demonstrated. In the approach, a frequency-unknown microwave signal is modulated on an optical carrier in a Mach-Zehnder modulator biased at the minimum transmission point. After detecting the transmission and reflection optical powers at the output of the FBG, the microwave frequency can be determined according to the value of transmission-to-reflection power ratio, due to the fixed relationship between the microwave frequency and the power ratio. A proof-of-concept experiment has been performed, which demonstrates that a measurement resolution of ±0.08 GHz over a 10 GHz measurement bandwidth is achieved. The measurement performance in terms of resolution is better than previously reported results.     

Microwave absorption properties of rod-shaped Co-Ni-P shells prepared by metallizing Bacillus

The rod-shaped Co-Ni-P shells were prepared by metalling Bacillus. The microstructures and composition of the shells were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive analysis (EDS). The electromagnetic parameters were measured by the coaxial line method in the frequency of 2-18 GHz. It was found that the Bacillus were successfully coated with Co-Ni-P, and the inner structure of the shells are hollow in structure. The shells exhibit excellent microwave absorption properties in 5-17 GHz frequency. The microwave reflection loss is above −10 dB in 5.38-16.6 GHz frequency. The maximum microwave reflection loss reaches −35.83 dB at 9.12 GHz for samples thickness 2.4 mm, and the widest bandwidth for microwave reflection loss above −10 dB is about ∼5.32 GHz for samples thickness 2.0 mm. These results confirm the feasibility of applying Bacillus as biotemplates for fabrication of the metallic shells as lightweight microwave absorption materials are very promising for applications.     

Microwave absorption properties of one thin sheet employing carbonyl-iron powder and chlorinated polyethylene

To solve more and more serious electromagnetic interference problem, one thin microwave absorbing sheet employing carbonyl-iron powder (CIP) and chlorinated polyethylene (CPE) was prepared. The pattern, static magnetic properties and phase of CIP were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. The electromagnetic parameters of CIP were measured in the frequency range of 2-18 GHz, and the electromagnetic loss mechanisms of the powder were discussed. The microwave absorption properties of composite sheets with different thicknesses and CIP ratios in matrix were investigated by measuring reflection loss (RL) in 2-18 GHz frequency range using the arch method. The results showed that appropriate CIP content and thickness could greatly improve microwave absorption properties in lower frequency range. For the sample with the weight ratio (CIP:CPE) of 16:1 and 1.5 mm thickness, the bandwidth (RL below −10 dB) achieved 1.1 GHz (2-3.1 GHz), and the minimum reflection loss value was obtained −13.2 dB at 2.2 GHz. This suggested that CIP/CPE composites could be applied as thin microwave absorbers in S-band (2-4 GHz).     

82-channel multi-wavelength comb generation in a SOA fiber ring laser

We demonstrate a multi-wavelength semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) fiber ring laser with a dual-pass Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) filter. Two SOAs with different gain spectra provide sufficient gain and a wider gain spectrum to facilitate multi-wavelength lasing. The dual-pass MZI, configured by adding an optical isolator to the two outputs of the conventional MZI, serves as comb filter for multi-wavelength operation, and its extinction ratio can be enhanced to twofold as that of the conventional MZI in the same parameters. To investigate the influences of a dual-pass MZI filter and a conventional MZI filter on multi-wavelength operation, two different cavity configurations are presented and compared, including a single-SOA ring cavity and a double-SOA ring cavity. Stable simultaneous operation at 82 wavelengths, with a wavelength spacing of 40 GHz and a power deviation of 5 dB, and with a minimum optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) of 28 dB, is observed from the double-SOA ring cavity using a dual-pass MZI filter.     

High-resolution spectroscopy using interleaved 100 GHz optical frequency comb scanned by phase modulator

A high-resolution spectroscopy technique is proposed with an optical phase modulator combined with an interleaved optical frequency comb. The optical phase modulator and a frequency-locked laser light guarantee a spectral resolution less than 1 MHz on an absolute frequency axis. A wide measurement frequency range was realized using a 25 GHz optical frequency comb lying over a 4 THz frequency region. An extraction of single tooth intensity from the comb was realized by a heterodyne technique with a frequency-tunable laser used as a local oscillator. Also, the 25 GHz optical frequency comb was interleaved to generate four 100-GHz combs for removing the crosstalk from the 25 GHz neighboring sidebands in the teeth. This proposed spectroscopy technique was experimentally demonstrated with a resonator of less than 1 MHz linewidth and a H¹³C¹⁴N gas cell. Thus, a measurement frequency range higher than 4 THz (1530 nm-1560 nm) was confirmed with an effective spectral resolution 100 kHz order. In addition, the characteristics of the proposed system were compared with those of the previous system with a single-sideband (SSB) optical modulator.     

Photonic RF frequency measurement combining SSB-SC modulation and birefringence

A new technique to instantaneously measure microwave frequency and amplitude is presented and experimentally demonstrated. The architecture described is based on a single sideband modulation with suppressed carrier (SSB-SC) and the measurement of the Stokes parameters at the output of a birefringent medium. The results show errors below 50 MHz in the 59% of measurements carried out in a range from 1 to 11 GHz and an average power error of 0.34 dB. The technique shows the potential to increase the resolution and the range by increasing the differential time delay of the birefringent medium.     

Optimization of electromagnetic matching of carbonyl iron/BaTiO3 composites for microwave absorption

Microwave absorbing materials filled with BaTiO₃ and carbonyl iron (CI) particles with various weight fractions (BaTiO₃/CI particles=100/0 to 0/100) are investigated. The dielectric and magnetic properties of the absorbers can be tuned by changing the weight ratio of BaTiO₃/CI particles in the frequency range of 2-18 GHz. Numerical simulations are also performed to design a single-layer and double-layer absorber. The minimum reflection loss of the composite filled with 20 wt% BaTiO₃ and 60 wt% CI particles at 2.0 mm thickness can be reached to −42 dB at 4.1 GHz. With the weight ratio of CI particles in the composite increased, the microwave absorption peak shifted to the lower frequency region. By using a double-layer absorber structure, the microwave absorption performance of the absorber is enhanced. The result shows that the total thickness of the absorber can be reduced below 1.4 mm by using a matching layer filled with 50 wt% BaTiO₃, and an absorption layer filled with 60 wt% BaTiO₃ and 20 wt% CI particles, whereas the reflection loss below −10 dB can be obtained in the frequency range of 10.8-14.8 GHz and the minimum reflection loss of −59 dB can be obtained at 12.5 GHz.     

EAM-SOA millimeter-wave frequency up-converter for radio-over-fiber applications

We present an optical scheme for photonic frequency up-conversion at the millimeter-wave bands based on Semiconductor Optical Amplifier. The proposed scheme modulates the bias current with the Intermediate Frequency in order to achieve frequency mixing of an incoming optical signal modulated with the Local Oscillator. Theory indicates that the proposed scheme supports data bandwidths in the tens of GHz for LO values above 10 GHz. This scheme allows for photonic integration of the considered optical devices. A laboratory demonstration of the scheme for up-conversion to the 40 GHz band, using narrow-band IF signals, showed relatively low thresholds for the optical input power and bias current level to achieve error free operation: − 14.5 dBm 100 mA for a 64-QAM signal. Spurious-Free Dynamic Range showed an acceptable performance, with a linearity about 52.5 dB·Hz^2/3 for an optical input power of − 6 dBm.     

A numerical study on the contribution of melting layer composed by coated ice spheres to the upwelling brightness temperatures in TMI channels using VDISORT algorithm

To examine the influence of bright band on the retrieval of precipitation rate, the performance of melting layer composed by coated ice precipitable particles on the satellite-based measurement of polarized microwave brightness temperatures is discussed in this article by a vector discrete ordinate radiative transfer model. After comparing the simulated brightness temperatures in different TMI channels with and without the melting layer, we conclude that: (1) The melting layer composed by liquid-coated ice spheres weakens the upwelling microwave brightness temperatures because of the absorption/emission effect caused by the liquid coat. This effect is more conspicuous in middle and high frequency channels (19, 37 and 85 GHz) but, in 85 GHz channel, with the increase of rain rate, the multi-scattering can weaken its effect. (2) In a specific frequency, the horizontally polarized brightness temperature is more severely weakened by the melting layer than the vertically polarized. With the “cold” background (ocean surface, for example), this character is more conspicuous than that with a warm background. That is to say, the inner structure of a cloud system is easier to be detected under a cold background. Only in the 85 GHz frequency and when the rain rate is larger than 4 mm/h can we find that the vertically polarized brightness temperature is more severely weakened than the horizontally polarized one. (3) The melting layer with the assumption of coated ice spheres can change the difference of brightness temperatures between the vertically and horizontally polarized channels in the same frequency. In general, the value of such difference with the assumption of melting layer is larger than that without it. With a warm background, this value is negative and only in middle frequency (37 GHz), it is both stable and conspicuous.     

Microwave absorption properties of Sr2FeMoO6 nanoparticles

The microwave absorption properties of nanosized double perovskite Sr₂FeMoO₆ and epoxy resin composites were investigated in the frequency range of 2-18 GHz using the coaxial method. The Sr₂FeMoO₆ composites with an optimal 20 wt% epoxy resin showed a strong electromagnetic attenuation of −49.3 dB at 8.58 GHz with a matching thickness of 2.15 mm. Moreover the optimum absorption frequency at which the reflection loss is less than −20 dB, which corresponds to 99% reflection loss of the incident microwave, is from 5.7 to 13.2 GHz with the matching thickness ranging from 3.0 to 1.5 mm. The excellent microwave-absorption properties are a consequence of a proper electromagnetic match due to the existence of the insulating matrix of anti-site defects and anti-phase domains, which not only contribute to the dielectric loss but also to the reduced eddy current loss.     

Enhanced microwave absorption in ZnO/carbonyl iron nano-composites by coating dielectric material

The microwave absorption properties of zinc oxide/carbonyl iron composite nanoparticles fabricated by high energy ball milling were studied at 0-20 GHz. Experiments showed that ZnO as a kind of dielectric material coating carbonyl iron particles made the bandwidth of reflection loss (RL)<−5 dB expanding to the low frequency, and enhanced absorption effect obviously. For a 3 mm thickness absorber of ZnO/carbonyl iron after 30 h milling, the values of RL<−5 dB and RL<−8 dB were obtained in the frequency range from 7.0 GHz to 17.8 GHz and from 9.8 dB to 14.9 dB, respectively, and its strongest RL peak was −29.34 dB at 13.59 GHz. The magnetic loss of carbonyl iron particles and the dielectric loss of ZnO particles were the main mechanisms of microwave absorption for the composites.     

A very compact Mach-Zehnder interferometer with left-handed material

A very compact Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) composed of two parallel straight waveguides with left-handed material (LHM) layers is proposed. The operating principle and characteristics of the MZI with electro-optic material (EOM) core are analyzed by using the supermode theory and coupled mode theory. The result shows that regardless of material loss, a very compact MZI of only 0.87 mm × 0.022 mm can be achieved by utilizing EOM with ultrahigh electro-optic coefficient, which means a new way to fulfill a very compact electro-optic modulator or optical switch. The absorption effect of the proposed MZI is also analyzed by perturbation method which is generated by lossy LHM layers.     

Simultaneous measurement of curvature and temperature based on PCF-based interferometer and fiber Bragg grating

A sensor head consisting of a photonic crystal fiber (PCF)-based Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) and a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is proposed and experimentally demonstrated for simultaneous measurement of curvature and temperature. The MZI fabricated by splicing a short length of PCF between two single-mode fibers with the air-hole structure that completely collapsed near the splicing points, is sensitive to fiber bending and surrounding temperature, while the FBG is only sensitive to the later. Simultaneous measurement of curvature and temperature is therefore obtained. Sensitivities of 4.06 nm/m^− 1 and 6.30 pm/°C are achieved experimentally for curvature and temperature, respectively. And the corresponding resolutions are 5.2 × 10^− 4 m^− 1 and 1.25 °C for curvature and temperature, respectively, based on the wavelength measurement resolution of 10 pm.     

Skin-effect analysis of a shielded polymer Y-fed coupler electro-optic modulator over a wide bandwidth of 94 GHz

A novel technique and related formulations are proposed for analyzing the influences of the skin-effect on the performances of a polymer Y-fed coupler electro-optic modulator with shielded push-pull micro-strip electrodes. Using the extended point-matching method, coupled mode theory and electro-optic modulation theory, thorough design and optimization are performed. By introducing the effective applied voltage, formulas of the high-frequency response under skin-effect are deduced, and characteristics under skin-effect are analyzed. Under the central wavelength of 1550 nm, the half-wave voltage is as low as 1.097 V for the device with an active region length about 8.884 mm. Considering the influences of the skin-effect, the 3-dB modulating bandwidth of the microwave signal is up to 94 GHz. A high extinction ratio of more than 20 dB and a low insertion loss of less than 4.18 dB are achieved when the microwave frequency is below 68 GHz under skin-effect. This design technique is proven to be accurate by the comparison with the beam propagation method (BPM).     

Electromagnetic and microwave absorption properties of Fe3O4 magnetic films plated on hollow glass spheres

Magnetic hollow spheres of low density were prepared by plating Fe₃O₄ magnetic films on hollow glass spheres using ferrite plating. The complex permeability and permittivity of spheres–wax composites were measured in the range of 2–18 GHz. The complex permeability and permittivity increased, and the dielectric and magnetic losses were improved as the volume fraction of the magnetic spheres in the composites increased from 60% to 80%, which also resulted in a great improvement of microwave absorption properties. For composites with volume fraction 80%, its magnetic resonance frequency was at about 13 GHz and it appeared three loss peaks in the calculated reflection loss curves; the bandwidth less than −10 dB was almost 4 GHz which was just in the Ku-band frequencies (12–18 GHz) and a minimum reflection loss of −20 dB was obtained when the thickness was 2.6 mm; the microwave absorbing properties were mainly due to the magnetic loss. The results showed that the magnetic spheres composites were good and light microwave absorbers in the Ku-band frequencies.     

Comparison of the effects of particle shape on thin FeSiCr electromagnetic wave absorber

The raw materials of FeSiCr were processed in the ball mill for 30 h and the shape of the FeSiCr particles was changed from sphere to flake type, which was observed using a scanning electron microscope. And FeSiCr composite microwave absorbers were mixed with silicone for mobile phones and the effects of the thickness of the samples on the absorption were measured using a network analyzer in order to investigate the relationship between the microwave absorption and the material constants. The flake-type FeSiCr-rubber composite showed high reflection loss, which was due to the high complex permittivity and permeability. Also, the matching frequency shifted toward lower frequency range with microwave absorber thickness, and the maximum reflection loss of −8.7 dB was observed in 1.85 GHz for a 1.6 mm thickness.     

Microwave properties of composites with chromium dioxide

The permittivity and permeability of composites filled with CrO₂ powder are measured within the frequency range from 0.05 to 12 GHz. A sharp line of magnetic absorption is detected near 8 GHz. The effects of magnetic bias and remanence on the permittivity and permeability spectra are analyzed. The hysteretic behavior of dynamic permeability is observed for both parallel and perpendicular bias orientations relative to the microwave magnetic field. The effect is due to switching of the magnetic texture under bias equal to coercive field. At 50 MHz the parallel bias close to coercive field affects permeability much stronger than the perpendicular one. At 10 GHz the effect of perpendicular bias is higher than that of the parallel one. The effect of remanence on the microwave permeability is negligible. The 3 kOe parallel bias suppresses the line of magnetic absorption and decreases the conductivity of the composite and its microwave permittivity. This can be attributed to the magnetostatic interaction of inclusions in the vicinity of the percolation threshold.     

Fabrication and electromagnetic performance of micro-tubular nanocomposites composed of monodisperse iron nanoparticles and carbon

Low density and thin thickness are essential for electromagnetic (EM) wave absorbers. In this study, we fabricated a novel micro-tubular iron nanocomposite (MTIC) that composed of carbon microtubes and monodisperse iron nanoparticles (NPs). The bulk density of MTIC is only 0.35±0.04 g cm⁻³ due to its micro-tubular structure. The presence of iron NPs increased the magnetic loss significantly and therefore enhanced the reflection loss (RL) of MTIC/paraffin composite. The optimum thickness for the composite is 1.5-1.8 mm, with maximum bandwidth of 7.6 GHz for RL<−5 dB and 3.6 GHz for RL<−10 dB. The corresponding frequency at this thickness is 10-18 GHz. Because of low density and broad bandwidth at thin thickness, MTIC is a promising light-weight absorber for EM wave absorption or microwave shielding. This study will also provide new ideas for fabricating microwave absorbers with low density and thin thickness.