All optical arbitrary waveform generation by optical frequency comb based on cascading intensity modulation

We propose and experimentally demonstrate an all optical arbitrary waveform generation by optical frequency comb (OFC) based on cascading intensity modulation. By selecting spectral lines of interest from OFC through optical filters, 10 GHz, 20 GHz, and 60 GHz sinusoidal signals with low phase noise and more complex waveforms, including ultra-short pulse, half-wave cosine, and single frequency modulated MMW signals, are generated easily.

Research Highlights► Optical frequency comb generation based on cascading intensity modulation. ► Optical frequency comb of nine spectral lines is generated with excursion smaller than 2 dB. ► Optical arbitrary waveform generation by selecting spectral lines of interest from optical frequency comb through optical filters. ► 10 GHz, 20 GHz, 60 GHz sinusoidal signals with low phase noise are generated. ► More complex waveforms, including ultra-short pulse, half-wave cosine, and single frequency modulated millimeter wave signals, are generated.