Broadband RF disambiguation in subsampled analog optical links via intentionally-introduced sampling jitter

Abstract

We introduce a novel technique for broadband RF disambiguation which exploits a known jitter imparted onto the sampling rate of an optical pulse source in a subsampled analog optical link. Coarse disambiguation to bandwidths equal to the sample rate is achieved using pure tones as example waveforms by comparing the amplitude of the jitter-induced sidebands relative to the measured signal within the fundamental Nyquist band (frep/2). This sampling technique allows for ultra-wideband signal recovery with a single measurement. In a first-of-its-kind photonics demonstration we show reliable disambiguation for signals with center frequencies spanning 1 MHz - 40 GHz.