Optical serial coherent analyzer of radio-frequency (OSCAR).

Optical serial coherent analyzer of radio-frequency is a novel scheme that enables fast-scanning microwave signal measurements in a large bandwidth. The measurements are performed based on serial channelization realized by using a fast scanning laser source as the local oscillator to down-convert the to-be-measured radio-frequency (RF) signals. Optical coherent detection effectively removes interferences induced by RF's self-beating and guarantees the accuracy of measurements. In the experimental demonstration, instantaneous multi-frequency measurements and vector information acquisition of RF signals can be achieved by this scheme within 2.8 μs over 14 GHz bandwidth.