Diversity of photonic differentiators based on flexible demodulation of phase signals

We theoretically propose a multifunctional photonic differentiation (DIFF) scheme based on phase demodulation using two cascaded linear filters. The photonic DIFF has a diversity of output forms, such as the 1st order intensity DIFF, the 1st order field DIFF and its inversion, and the 2nd-order field DIFF, depending on the relative shift between the optical carrier and the filter's resonant notches. As a proof, we also experimentally demonstrate the DIFF diversity using a phase modulator and two delay interferometers (DIs). The calculated average deviation is less than 7% for all DIFF waveforms. Our schemes show the advantages of flexible DIFF functions and forms, which may have different optical applications. For example, high order field differentiators can be used to generate complex temporal waveforms, and intensity differentiators are useful for the ultra-wideband pulse generation.