Theoretical and Experimental Optimization of SBS-Based Pulse Compression of RF Broadband Signal

We investigate relevant parameters which affect the all-optical pulse compression system of a microwave (RF) broadband signal based on stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) in an optical fiber. These parameters include the waveform, the extinction ratio (ER) of the probe pulse, the power of the pump and probe lightwaves, the temporal period of the signal to be compressed, and the Brillouin gain coefficient of the fiber. We observe that the better modulation waveform of the probe pulse is a rectangular short pulse. The most critical parameter is the ER of the probe pulse, which is positively correlated with the all-optical RF pulse-compression performance. When the ER is limited to be less than ~35 dB, the Brillouin gain coefficient, the temporal period of the signal to be compressed, and the power of the pump lightwave are all positively correlated with the RF pulse-compression performance. The experimental results verify the theoretical expectation and the pulse-compression performance is experimentally optimized.