Experimental demonstration of frequency-octupled millimeter-wave signal generation based on a dual-parallel Mach-Zehnder modulator

A frequency octupling system based on a dual-parallel Mach-Zehnder modulator (DPMZM) and a wavelength-fixed optical notch filter is experimentally demonstrated. A millimeter-wave signal tunable from 36.8 to 42.4 GHz is generated when a microwave drive signal from 4.6 to 5.3 GHz is applied to the DPMZM. The spectral purity of the generated signal is also theoretically and experimentally studied. An electrical harmonic suppression ratio of more than 30 dB is achieved.