Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) photonic equalizer may include a first electro-optic (E/O) modulator configured to modulate an optical carrier based upon an RF input signal, a stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) medium coupled to the first E/O modulator, and a second E/O modulator configured to modulate the optical carrier based upon an equalizing function waveform. An optical circulator may be coupled to the SBS medium and the second E/O modulator, and a photodetector may be coupled to the optical circulator.

Abstract: An RF frequency converter with equalization may include a first E/O modulator configured to modulate an optical carrier signal based upon an RF input signal having a first frequency, and a SBS medium coupled to the first E/O modulator. The RF frequency converter may have a second E/O modulator configured to modulate the optical carrier signal based upon an equalizing function waveform, and a third E/O modulator coupled between the first E/O modulator and the SBS medium. The third E/O modulator may be configured to modulate the optical carrier signal with a reference signal. The RF frequency converter may include an optical circulator coupled to the SBS medium and the second E/O modulator, and a photodetector coupled to the optical circulator and configured to generate an equalized RF output signal having a replica of the RF input signal at a second frequency based upon the reference signal.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) photonic equalizer may include a first electro-optic (E/O) modulator configured to modulate an optical carrier based upon an RF input signal, a stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) medium coupled to the first E/O modulator, and a second E/O modulator configured to modulate the optical carrier based upon an equalizing function waveform. An optical circulator may be coupled to the SBS medium and the second E/O modulator, and a photodetector may be coupled to the optical circulator.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) photonic spectrometer may include a laser and a receiver branch including an optical modulator optically coupled to the laser and configured to modulate laser light based upon a radio frequency (RF) input signal, and an optical bandpass filter optically coupled to the optical modulator. The spectrometer may further include optical comb branches optically coupled to the laser and each including a frequency comb generator coupled to a respective RF reference signal, with the RF reference signals having different frequencies associated therewith. Furthermore, an output stage may be configured to determine a frequency of the RF input signal based upon outputs of the receiver branch and the optical comb branches.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) photonic spectrometer may include a laser and a receiver branch including an optical modulator optically coupled to the laser and configured to modulate laser light based upon a radio frequency (RF) input signal, and an optical bandpass filter optically coupled to the optical modulator. The spectrometer may further include optical comb branches optically coupled to the laser and each including a frequency comb generator coupled to a respective RF reference signal, with the RF reference signals having different frequencies associated therewith. Furthermore, an output stage may be configured to determine a frequency of the RF input signal based upon outputs of the receiver branch and the optical comb branches.

Abstract: A communications system may include an optical source to generate an optical carrier signal, and an RF signal path including a first electro-optic (EO) modulator to modulate the optical carrier signal based upon an RF signal, a stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) device coupled to the first EO modulator, and an optical circulator downstream from the SBS device. A local oscillator (LO) path may include a second EO modulator coupled to the optical source to modulate the optical carrier signal based upon an LO signal, and an optical bandpass filter(s) coupled to the second EO modulator. A filter function path may be coupled to the optical circulator and include a third EO modulator to perform optical modulation based upon a filter function signal. A detector may be coupled to the RF signal path and the LO path to generate an intermediate frequency (IF) signal.