Microwave Photonics (ELEN90084)

AIMS

Microwave Photonics is a field that fuses microwave and optical technologies to bring out the best of both worlds. This subject will explore this interdisciplinary field, starting by looking at the basics to investigating interesting applications that may not be possible using just one of these disciplines.

This course will cover topics from: Introduction to microwave photonics, basic optical and RF components (optical sources, modulators, receivers, passive devices, RF mixers, wireless receivers); applications of microwave photonics – fibre-wireless links (basic configuration, signal generation, transport strategies, design and analysis, limitation); microwave photonics signal processing (filters, photonics analog-digital-converters, true-time delay beamforming, electro-optic sampling, signal generation); optoelectronic oscillators (generation, frequency combs); photonic integrated circuits for microwave photonics (different platforms of integration, filter designs – microresonators, nonlinear effects).

INDICATIVE CONTENT

This subject will explore the close interactions of lightwave and microwave and understand the physical principles of the hybrid field. Students will learn and investigate the microwave photonics principles through a number of cutting-edge system applications ranging from high-speed fibre-wireless links to microwave photonic signal processing. The focus will be on link and subsystem design and performance analysis that are usually not covered in other subjects. Through these studies, students will understand the different functionalities that can only be created by combining the two different disciplines.