Integrated Multifrequency Recognition and Downconversion Based on Photonics-Assisted Compressive Sampling

On the basis of photonics-assisted compressive sampling (CS), we demonstrate for the first time an integrated system with the capacity of multifrequency recognition and downconversion of intercepted radio frequency (RF) component. Using a single analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with sub-Nyquist analog bandwidth of 826.75 MHz, a multicomponent signal with unknown frequencies ranging from 15 to 20 GHz is precisely located with maximum detection error of 100 kHz. The system's ability of photonic downconversion of identified RF component is characterized in terms of spur-free dynamic range (SFDR) as well.