Analytical modeling and generation of versatile optical waveforms using polarization-based modulation

We propose and model a flexible polarization-modulation-based microwave photonic waveform generator capable of synthesizing versatile waveform profiles with high fidelity. The architecture employs two Mach-Zehnder modulators (MZMs) biased to work as phase modulators, which are driven by RF signals, strategically interleaved with optical bias elements and terminated with a polarizer to convert polarization dynamics into intensity modulation. An analytical model is developed to describe the polarization evolution and its dependency on the system parameters, enabling predictive control over the generated waveforms. Using this model, we demonstrate the generation of four key waveform types-triangular, square, fully rectified sinusoidal waveforms, and sawtooth waveform-through bias tuning and signal phasing. This polarization-modulation technique introduces a tunable, bias-controlled degree of freedom for optical-to-electrical waveform shaping, opening what we believe are new pathways for integrated, reconfigurable microwave photonic systems in beamforming, testing, and arbitrary waveform generation applications.