We demonstrate a millimeter-wave (mm-wave) synthesizer based on spectral filtering of the ${\pm}2$ harmonics of a phase-modulated (PM) laser. Optical filters with narrow passband, good extinction ratio and tunable peak wavelengths are obtained by introducing distributed phase-shifts in a chirped fiber Bragg grating (CFBG) using current-controlled heating elements. Detailed modeling and analysis of the filter is performed using the effective index model and coupled-mode theory. We present several optimization criteria to customize the grating design and two experimental configurations are tested. The more flexible approach is based on a fiber Mach–Zehnder structure with a tunable phase-shifted CFBG in each arm. We show generation of mm-wave from 33 GHz to 48GHz, with a maximum frequency limited by the bandwidth of the photodetector.

© 2009 IEEE

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Citation lists with outbound citation links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription