Flexible channel selection method based on optical combs for broadband signals receiving

A flexible channel selection method based on optical combs is proposed for reconfigurable optical channels in this paper. Optical-frequency combs with a large frequency interval are used to modulate broadband radio frequency (RF) signals, and an on-chip reconfigurable optical filter [Proc. of SPIE, 11763, 1176370 (2021).] is used to perform periodic carrier separation of wideband and narrowband signals and channel selection. In addition, flexible channel selection is achieved by presetting the parameters of a fast-response programmable wavelength-selective optical switch and filter device. Channel selection only relies on the combs through the Vernier effect of the combs and the passbands for different periods and does not require the use an additional switch matrix. Finally, flexible switching between and selection of specific channels for 13 GHz and 19 GHz broadband RF signals are experimentally verified.