Photonic Temporal Operators for Microwave Signals Enabled by Multicore Fibers

We present, to the best of our knowledge, a novel approach to implement photonic temporal operators for microwave signals using dispersion-diversity heterogeneous multicore fibers. The signal samples are created by the distinct fiber cores, which are dispersion-engineered to offer tunable true time delay line operation. We showcase photonic temporal operators enabled through a 5-km long dispersion-diversity seven-core heterogeneous multicore fiber true time delay line, successfully demonstrating up to the fourth-order temporal differentiation and seven-sample temporal integration, with integration windows ranging from 350 up to 700 ps, for different microwave signals. The proposed scheme holds promise for scalability and parallel implementation of different temporal operators, opening avenues for further advancements in optical computing and signal processing systems. In comparison with other methods, our solution provides important benefits in terms of power consumption, compactness and seamless integration with optical networks. This work paves the way for enhanced performance and efficiency in optical communication and signal processing systems as the multicore fiber provides the medium for both signal processing and distribution functionalities.