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IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques

Slow and Fast Light Effects and Their Applications to Microwave Photonics Using Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers

Salvador Sales, Weiqi Xue, Jesper Mørk, Ivana Gasulla

Published Oct 27, 2010• 53 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We provide a comprehensive review of the application of slow and fast light (SFL) techniques to the field of microwave photonics. Basic principles leading to the implementation of phase shifting and true time delay operations which are instrumental in this field are first considered. We then focus on the description of the main results obtained by our groups in the implementation of broadband, full 360 phase shifting using coherent population oscillations in semiconductor waveguides. Next, attention is given to the evaluation of the system impairments implied by these devices when included in analog links. Finally, the main results obtained for several microwave photonic applications such as filtering, arbitrary waveform generation and optoelectronic oscillators (OEOs) are reviewed, and other directions for future research in the field are discussed.

DOI
10.1109/tmtt.2010.2075510

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We provide a comprehensive review of the application of slow and fast light (SFL) techniques to the field of microwave photonics. Basic principles leading to the implementation of phase shifting and true time delay operations which are instrumental in this field are first considered. We then focus on the description of the main results obtained by our groups in the implementation of broadband, full 360 phase shifting using coherent population oscillations in semiconductor waveguides. Next, attention is given to the evaluation of the system impairments implied by these devices when included in analog links. Finally, the main results obtained for several microwave photonic applications such as filtering, arbitrary waveform generation and optoelectronic oscillators (OEOs) are reviewed, and other directions for future research in the field are discussed.
We review the theory of slow and fast light effects due to coherent population oscillations in semiconductor waveguides, and potential applications of these effects in microwave photonic systems as RF phase shifters. In order to satisfy the application requirement of 360° RF phase shift at different microwave or millimeter-wave frequency bands, we present several schemes to increase the achievable RF phase shift by enhancing light slow-down or speed-up. These schemes include integrating gain and absorption sections, optical filtering and the exploitation of the initial chirp effects. As a real application in microwave photonics, a widely tunable microwave photonic notch filter with 100% fractional tuning range is also proposed and demonstrated.
In this talk we show how slow and fast light effects arising from the nonlinear gain and refractive index dynamics within semiconductor optical amplifiers can be used to control the phase shift of microwave frequency signals. Theoretical predictions with experimental conformation will be shown as to how continuous phase shifting can be achieved and pay particular attention to the noise issue that arises in such phase shifters. Finally, applications of such phase shifters, including realizations of tunable microwave notch filters and tunable optoelectronic oscillators will be presented.
Investigations of slow and fast light effects in semiconductor waveguides entail interesting physics and point to a number of promising applications. In this review we give an overview of recent progress in the field, in particular focusing on the physical mechanisms of electromagnetically induced transparency and coherent population oscillations. While electromagnetically induced transparency has been the most important effect in realizing slowdown effects in atomic gasses, progress has been comparatively slow in semiconductors due to inherent problems of fast dephasing times and inhomogeneous broadening in quantum dots. The physics of electromagnetically induced transparency in semiconductors is discussed, emphasizing these limitations and recent suggestions for overcoming them. On the other hand, the mechanism of coherent population oscillations relies on wave mixing effects and is well suited for semiconductor waveguides. Recent experimental progress is reviewed, emphasizing new ideas that have significantly enhanced the degree of control that can be exercised and the frequency range that can be achieved. Thus, applications within microwave photonics appear to be within reach.