All-optical tuning of a nonlinear silicon microring assisted microwave photonic filter: theory and experiment.

We propose and demonstrate an all-optical tuning mechanism to tune the response of a microwave photonic filter (MPF) based on a nonlinear silicon microring resonator (MRR). The tuning mechanism relies on the optical nonlinearities induced resonant wavelength shift in the silicon MRR, leading to the change of frequency difference between the optical carrier frequency and resonant frequency of the silicon MRR. A detailed theoretical model is established to describe the operation of the proposed all-optical tunable MPF. Two cases are studied in the experiment, i.e. the optical carrier frequency is located at the left or right side of the MRR resonant frequency. Both forward and backward pumping configurations in each case are demonstrated. Using the fabricated silicon MRR and exploiting light to control light, the central frequency of the notch MPF can be flexibly tuned by adjusting the pump light power. Moreover, the presented all-optical tuning mechanism might also facilitate interesting applications such as microwave switching and microwave modulation.