Photonic Multiple Microwave Frequency Measurement System with Single-Branch Detection Based on Polarization Interference

Abstract

A photonic microwave frequency measurement system with single-branch detection based on polarization interference is proposed. In this scheme, a 15-line non-flat optical frequency comb (OFC) based on sawtooth signal modulation via a Mach–Zehnder modulator is generated. The intercepted microwave signal with multiple-frequency components can be measured by frequency down-conversion with this simple structure. This system can measure the multi-tone microwave signals in real time. The single-branch detection makes the system a simple and compact structure and avoids the unbalanced variation, as in a two-branches scheme. The blind area of the system can be solved by adjusting the comb-line spacing of the OFC. A simulation is carried out and related discussion is given. The result reveals that it can measure multi-tone microwave signals with a resolution of less than 2 MHz over 0.1–12 GHz.