All-optical filter for simultaneous implementation of microwave bandpass and notch responses based on semiconductor optical amplifier

An all-optical filter structure to simultaneously implement microwave bandpass and notch filter is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The structure is based on a recirculating delay line (RDL) loop consisting of a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) followed by a tunable narrowband optical filter and a 10:90 coupler. The converted signal is generated in a wavelength conversion process based on cross-gain modulation of amplified spontaneous emission in the SOA. The converted signal circulating in RDL loop realizes a negative bandpass response. The negative bandpass filter and a broadband allpass filter are synthesized to achieve a notch filter with flat passband which can excise interference with minimal impact on the wanted signal.