Reduced Cost Amplitude Independent Photonic RF Frequency Measurement System

We have demonstrated that a previously developed amplitude independent photonic instantaneous frequency measurement (IFM) system can be further simplified by removing one laser source while maintaining the amplitude independent concept. This has reduced the cost of the system specifically when a bank of IFM systems is needed. Also, using high frequency Mach-Zehnder modulators, the system operation bandwidth was improved to 40 GHz. Although the performance of the system is not comparable to state of the art microwave receivers; the potential for system improvement exists.