High-speed, electronic arbitrary waveform generation using time-domain processing of ultrashort optical pulses

Ultra wideband (UWB) microwave signals are receiving much attention for their potential use in both radar systems and high-speed data links. The currently available arbitrary waveform generation (AWG) devices operates up to only a few gigahertz. The desire to create UWB signals with carrier frequencies in the 10s of GHz and fractional bandwidths approaching 100% suggests investigating microwave-photonic approaches. In this paper, the authors demonstrate a method for electrical AWG with independent envelope and carrier control though the manipulation of wide bandwidth optical pulses in a time-domain processor.