Optically generated phase shift keying microwave signal using optical phase modulator with single light source

Abstract

High-speed microwave or millimeter-wave phase-shifters are the key devices in various wireless applications such as beam forming by the phased array antennas or multi-level modulation with the phase shift keying technology. In this paper, we report a simple phase control method in microwave or millimeter-wave band based on optical beat note generation using an optical phase modulator with a single light source and a narrowband optical filter. We experimentally confirmed the high stability and ultrafast phase shift keying operation of optically generated microwave signal.