Photonic-assisted multi-band RF channelization and digitization for 5G frequency bands

Abstract In this study, we introduce a photonic-assisted RF channelization method capable of simultaneously down-converting and digitizing multiple RF bands through photonic down-conversion and photonic analog-to-digital conversion (ADC). The method is demonstrated across the three frequency ranges used in 5G signals, with center frequencies at 700 MHz, 3700 MHz, and 27000 MHz. Each RF band is optically sampled and photonic down-converted to the 0–2 GHz range without any frequency band overlap using a custom mode-locked laser running at 4.05 GHz optical pulse repetition frequency, 1.6 ps pulse width and 11.4 fs integrated timing jitter (100 Hz–10 MHz). The sampled signal is then digitized using photonic ADC technique. The resulting effective number of bits (ENOB) values for the 700 MHz, 3700 MHz, and 27000 MHz bands are 9.8, 9.2, and 5.8 bits, respectively.