A serial digital-to-analog conversion based on photonic time-stretch technology

• Published in: Optics communications 2022-05, Vol.510, p.127949, Article 127949
• Main Authors: Yang, Shuna, Wang, Jian, Yang, Bo, Chi, Hao, Ou, Jun, Zhai, Yanrong, Li, Qiliang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Digital to analog conversion; Spectrum shaping; Time stretch
• ISSN: 0030-4018; 1873-0310
• DOI: 10.1016/j.optcom.2022.127949

A novel digital-to-analog conversion (DAC) scheme based on the photonic time-stretch (PTS) technology is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. In this approach, the broadband chirped optical pulses are properly adjusted by the spectrum-shaper to produce the intensity weighted wavelength bands, which are employed to carry the serial input digital signals by the intensity modulation. The modulated signals are further stretched by the same time factor and partly overlapped with each other to realize the incoherent weighted intensity summation. Compared with the existing photonic DAC schemes, the generation of optical carriers and the weighted intensity summation in proposed approach are achieved by using only a single fiber, accordingly the system configuration is significantly simplified and much easier to be integrated. The proof-of-concept experiment for a 3-bit DAC system based on PTS is successfully carried out. In addition, the system performance in terms of INL (integral nonlinearity) and DNL (differential nonlinearity) is also discussed. •A novel DAC scheme based on photonic time-stretch technology is proposed.•The proposed scheme realizes the D/A conversion by using a single fiber.•The system configuration is significantly simplified and much easier to be integrated.•The proof-of-concept experiment for a 3-bit DAC system is carried out.•The system performance in terms of INL and DNL is discussed.