Characterization of a coherent optical RF channelizer based on a diffraction grating

A coherent optical RF channelizer has been constructed and characterized. T he optical channelizer is based on a free-space optical diffraction grating , and utilizes coherent optical heterodyne detection to translate all of th e frequency channels to a common intermediate frequency (IF). The designed optical channelizer has a 1-GHz channel spacing, and a nominal 5-GHz IF, an d can offer an instantaneous bandwidth greater than 100 GHz. The channelizi ng receiver has been characterized for its frequency. response, crosstalk, and spur-free dynamic range, and the results are in a good agreement with t he theoretical values.