Generation and Detection of Ultra-Wideband Waveforms Using Stimulated Brillouin Scattering Amplified Spontaneous Emission

A scheme for the photonic generation and coherent detection of ultra-wideband radio-frequency (RF) noise is proposed and demonstrated. The technique relies on the amplified spontaneous emission of a broadened stimulated Brillouin scattering process in an optical fiber (SBS-ASE). The SBS-ASE noise is on-off modulated, and down-converted to the RF spectral range via heterodyne beating. The spectrum of the SBS-ASE is broadened beyond 1 GHz by tailored direct modulation of the pump wave. A data transmitter and a coherent receiver are demonstrated experimentally. Coherent detection of the noise waveform is based on the transmission of a delayed, unmodulated replica alongside the data (transmit reference). A performance analysis of the receiver statistics is provided. Q parameter values of 4.6 at data rates of 4 Mb/s are demonstrated.