Abstract

While photonics is broadly considered as a leading solution for analog RF processing, photonic RF filters often show a limited out-of-band rejection. In this work we demonstrate a high rejection and high steepness photonic RF bandpass filter based on spectral hole burning in a rare earth ion-doped crystal. The filter is obtained by programming a frequency-selective absorption grating in the crystal. With an experimental and theoretical study we identify the optimal parameters for this filter. We achieve a remarkable rejection of 60 dB and a rejection of 45 dB at 50 MHz from the edge of the filter, compliant with most demanding applications.

Demonstration of a dynamic bandpass frequency filter in a rare-earth ion-doped crystal

Sarah E. Beavan, Elizabeth A. Goldschmidt, and Matthew J. Sellars
J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 30(5) 1173-1177 (2013)

Frequency agile microwave photonic notch filter with anomalously high stopband rejection

David Marpaung, Blair Morrison, Ravi Pant, and Benjamin J. Eggleton
Opt. Lett. 38(21) 4300-4303 (2013)

Photon echoes in an amplifying rare-earth-ion-doped crystal

V. Crozatier, G. Gorju, F. Bretenaker, J.-L. Le Gouët, I. Lorgeré, and E. Baldit
Opt. Lett. 30(11) 1288-1290 (2005)

Dispersive heterodyne probing method for laser frequency stabilization based on spectral hole burning in rare-earth doped crystals

O. Gobron, K. Jung, N. Galland, K. Predehl, R. Le Targat, A. Ferrier, P. Goldner, S. Seidelin, and Y. Le Coq
Opt. Express 25(13) 15539-15548 (2017)

Frequency-agile rf notch filter that uses photorefractive two-beam coupling

John H. Hong and Tallis Y. Chang
Opt. Lett. 18(2) 164-166 (1993)