Mach–Zehnder Modulators for Microwave Polarization Measurement in Astronomy Applications
This paper presents a study of the performances of different Mach–Zehnder modulation technologies with applications in microwave polarimeters based on a near-infrared (NIR) frequency up-conversion stage, allowing for optical correlation and signal detection at a wavelength of 1550 nm. Commercial Mac...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/23/14/6300 |
| _version_ | 1797587496305950720 |
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| author | Francisco J. Casas Guillermo Pascual-Cisneros |
| author_facet | Francisco J. Casas Guillermo Pascual-Cisneros |
| author_sort | Francisco J. Casas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper presents a study of the performances of different Mach–Zehnder modulation technologies with applications in microwave polarimeters based on a near-infrared (NIR) frequency up-conversion stage, allowing for optical correlation and signal detection at a wavelength of 1550 nm. Commercial Mach–Zehnder modulators (MZMs) are traditionally implemented using LiNbO<sub>3</sub> technology, which does not enable integration for the fabrication of MZMs. In this work, we propose the use of an alternative technology based on InP, which allows for integration in the fabrication process. In this way, it is possible to obtain advantages in terms of bandwidth, cost, and size reductions, which yield results that are very interesting for wide-band applications such as microwave instrumentation for the study of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). Here, we describe and compare the modulation performances of different MZMs, with one commercial unit presenting a higher bandwidth than those in previous works, and another three InP integrated units provided by the Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich-Hertz-Institute (HHI). Then, these modulators were coupled to a microwave polarimeter demonstrator, which has also been presented previously, to compare the polarization measurement performances of each of the MZMs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:40:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-259dc451677a47a2b5e80844120519c4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:40:45Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-259dc451677a47a2b5e80844120519c42023-11-18T21:15:47ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202023-07-012314630010.3390/s23146300Mach–Zehnder Modulators for Microwave Polarization Measurement in Astronomy ApplicationsFrancisco J. Casas0Guillermo Pascual-Cisneros1Instituto de Física de Cantabria (IFCA), Avda. Los Castros s/n, 39005 Santander, SpainInstituto de Física de Cantabria (IFCA), Avda. Los Castros s/n, 39005 Santander, SpainThis paper presents a study of the performances of different Mach–Zehnder modulation technologies with applications in microwave polarimeters based on a near-infrared (NIR) frequency up-conversion stage, allowing for optical correlation and signal detection at a wavelength of 1550 nm. Commercial Mach–Zehnder modulators (MZMs) are traditionally implemented using LiNbO<sub>3</sub> technology, which does not enable integration for the fabrication of MZMs. In this work, we propose the use of an alternative technology based on InP, which allows for integration in the fabrication process. In this way, it is possible to obtain advantages in terms of bandwidth, cost, and size reductions, which yield results that are very interesting for wide-band applications such as microwave instrumentation for the study of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). Here, we describe and compare the modulation performances of different MZMs, with one commercial unit presenting a higher bandwidth than those in previous works, and another three InP integrated units provided by the Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, Heinrich-Hertz-Institute (HHI). Then, these modulators were coupled to a microwave polarimeter demonstrator, which has also been presented previously, to compare the polarization measurement performances of each of the MZMs.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/23/14/6300instrumentationMach–Zehnder modulatorspolarizationcosmic microwave backgroundastronomy |
| spellingShingle | Francisco J. Casas Guillermo Pascual-Cisneros Mach–Zehnder Modulators for Microwave Polarization Measurement in Astronomy Applications Sensors instrumentation Mach–Zehnder modulators polarization cosmic microwave background astronomy |
| title | Mach–Zehnder Modulators for Microwave Polarization Measurement in Astronomy Applications |
| title_full | Mach–Zehnder Modulators for Microwave Polarization Measurement in Astronomy Applications |
| title_fullStr | Mach–Zehnder Modulators for Microwave Polarization Measurement in Astronomy Applications |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mach–Zehnder Modulators for Microwave Polarization Measurement in Astronomy Applications |
| title_short | Mach–Zehnder Modulators for Microwave Polarization Measurement in Astronomy Applications |
| title_sort | mach zehnder modulators for microwave polarization measurement in astronomy applications |
| topic | instrumentation Mach–Zehnder modulators polarization cosmic microwave background astronomy |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/23/14/6300 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT franciscojcasas machzehndermodulatorsformicrowavepolarizationmeasurementinastronomyapplications AT guillermopascualcisneros machzehndermodulatorsformicrowavepolarizationmeasurementinastronomyapplications |