Design of satellite-borne microwave photonic mixer based on DDMZM

Due to the influence of distributed parameters on microwave components, there is certain frequency selectivity, and it is difficult to achieve the broadband and multi-band compatible frequency conversion system, which can no longer meet the needs of the high-throughput satellite communication payload. Microwave photonics technology provides the possibility of realizing high-throughput satellite communication needs with its advantages of large bandwidth and no frequency selectivity. Based on dual-drive Mach-Zehnder modulator (DDMZM), the solution of the frequency conversion unit of the satellite communication system was explored. Through theoretical analysis of the link model, the software VPI was used to simulate and optimize the link to find the best offset point of the DDMZM. The experimental results show that when the modulator is biased at the minimum point, the frequency conversion efficiency is high, and it has certain carrier suppression function, which can achieve broadband, multi-band and anti-interference performance, and is superior to microwave frequency conversion performance.