Multitap microwave photonic filters with programmable phase response via optical frequency comb shaping

Optics LettersThe article of record as published may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/ol.37.000845We present a programmable multitap microwave photonic filter with an arbitrary phase response operating over a broad bandwidth. Complex coefficient taps are achieved by optical line-by-line pulse shaping on a 10 GHz flat optical frequency comb using a novel interferometric scheme. Through high-speed real-time measurements, we demonstrate programmable chirp control of a waveform via phase filtering. This achievement enables us to compress broadband microwave signals to their corresponding bandwidth-limited pulse duration.Funded by Naval Postgraduate SchoolThis project was supported in part by the Naval Postgraduate School under grant N00244-09-1-0068 under the National Security Science and Engineering Faculty Fellowship program