Photonic Ultra-Wideband Transmitter Using a Chirped Heterodyne Technique

A photonic ultra-wideband (UWB) impulse transmitter based on chirped heterodyning is demonstrated. It uses no high-speed electronics or optical modulators. Multiple data formats including high-order pulse-position modulation are implementable, as is switching among data formats. The transmitter is robust against fiber-propagation distortions and is capable of optimally filling the Federal Communications Commission, or any other, UWB spectral mask.