Microwave Photonic Signal Detection Using Phase-Matched Optical Rectification in an AlGaAs Waveguide

Author

Zhang, Jinye ; Bull, Jeffrey D. ; Darcie, Thomas E.

Author_Institution

Univ. of Victoria, Victoria

Volume

19

Issue

24

fYear

2007

Firstpage

2012

Lastpage

2014

Abstract

We demonstrate a novel approach for detecting microwave-modulated optical signals through velocity-matched optical rectification in second-order optical nonlinear materials. Optical intensity modulation is down-converted to microwave frequency (5-20 GHz) using a traveling-wave GaAs electrooptic modulator as an optical square-law detector. Phase matching between microwave and optical waves is achieved through a velocity-matched slow-wave asymmetric coplanar-strip electrode structure.

Keywords

III-V semiconductors; aluminium compounds; electro-optical modulation; gallium arsenide; microwave photonics; optical phase matching; optical waveguides; AlGaAs-GaAs; frequency 5 GHz to 20 GHz; microwave frequency; microwave-modulated optical signals; optical intensity modulation; optical square-law detector; phase-matched optical rectification; second-order optical nonlinear materials; traveling-wave electrooptic modulator; velocity-matched optical rectification; velocity-matched slow-wave asymmetric coplanar-strip electrode structure; Frequency conversion; Intensity modulation; Microwave frequencies; Nonlinear optics; Optical detectors; Optical frequency conversion; Optical materials; Optical modulation; Optical waveguides; Signal detection; Coherent microwave generation; electrooptic modulator; microwave photonics; optic rectification; phase match; slow-wave structure;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1041-1135

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/LPT.2007.909896

Filename

4390084