Optical architecture for programmable filtering of microwave signals

Abstract

We present a new optoelectronic architecture, based on parallel canceled delay lines, that performs programmable filtering of microwave signals. The new architecture can process optically carried microwave signals over frequency bandwidths as large as 20 GHz, with a time-frequency product up to 10(3). The operating principle of this structure is detailed, followed by the preliminary experimental demonstration at 1.2 GHz of a 40-dB rejection filter.