Polarization manipulated Fourier domain mode-locked optoelectronic oscillator

We report a polarization manipulated Fourier domain mode-locked optoelectronic oscillator (FDML-OEO) using a polarization modulator (PolM). Frequency and bandwidth doubling linearly chirped microwave waveforms (LCMWs) are generated from a PolM-based FDML-OEO. The multiplying operation is capable of increasing the frequency and bandwidth of LCMWs, which doubles the time-bandwidth product of the LCMWs and makes it possible to increase the center frequency of the LCMWs beyond the bandwidth of the optical modulator. Moreover, by simply adding the other laser diode, it is also possible to generate a dual-chirp LCMW. The polarization manipulated of two optical signals avoids the undesired beating signals from optical carriers. Thus, an electrical bandpass filter which is essential in previous work is no longer required. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that polarization manipulation is used in FDML-OEO, which can further satisfy the demands of modern radars in terms of improved range-Doppler resolution, higher carrier frequency, and larger bandwidth.