Photonic generation of millimeter-wave ultra-wideband signal using phase modulation to intensity modulation conversion and frequency up-conversion

We propose and experimentally demonstrate the generation of a pair of polarity-reversed 24 GHz millimeter-wave (MMW) ultra-wideband (UWB) monocycles. The scheme is realized by using delay interferometer (DI) based phase modulation to intensity modulation (PM–IM) conversion and carrier suppression modulation (CSM) based frequency up-conversion. The phase modulation is realized by using either electro-optic phase modulator (EOPM) or cross phase modulation (XPM) in semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA), which is an all-optical approach to obtaining baseband UWB signals, respectively. After frequency up-converted by using CSM in a Mach–Zehnder modulator (MZM), a pair of polarity-reversed 24 GHz MMW-UWB signals complying with the Federal Communication Committee (FCC) requirements is generated. The bi-phase modulation (BPM) of 24 GHz MMW-UWB signals can also be realized by electrically switching the bias voltage of delay interferometer.