Flexible synthesis of complex microwave waveforms assisted by time-domain operations

A photonic method for generating complicated microwave waveforms is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. Assisted by two easy-to-operate time-domain operations of differentiation and odd-order components elimination, two independent sets of frequency components, including odd-order and even-order components, can be conveniently obtained. Some complicated waveforms, such as a full-duty-cycle sinc waveform with varying sidelobes, a full-duty-cycle sinc 2 waveform with varying sidelobes, and a dark parabolic (or bright parabolic) waveform, are flexibly synthesized, which are validated by the theoretical analysis, simulations, and experimental demonstrations. Benefiting from the convenience of time-domain processing, the proposed scheme is easily implemented and offers relatively high precision in microwave waveform generation.