A flexible, open-source radio-frequency driver for acousto-optic and electro-optic devices

TL;DR

This paper introduces a versatile, open-source RF driver capable of high power and wide bandwidth, suitable for acousto-optic and electro-optic devices, with integrated modulation and switching features.

Contribution

The paper presents a compact, cost-effective RF driver design leveraging telecom amplifiers, with integrated thermal management, modulation, and digital switching, tailored for optical device applications.

Findings

Provides >1 W power from 10 MHz to 1.1 GHz

Achieves ≥5 W power from 20 MHz to 100 MHz

Features fast digital switching with >90 dB extinction

Abstract

We present a design for a radio-frequency driver that leverages telecom amplifiers to achieve high power output and wide bandwidth. The design consists of two compact printed circuit boards (total area $< 255$ cm), which incorporate power (turn-on) and thermal management to prevent accidental damage to the amplifier circuitry. Our driver provides $>1$ W of output power over a $10$ MHz to $1.1$ GHz frequency range, and $\geq 5$ W from $20$ MHz to $100$ MHz. The driver circuit includes auxiliary components for analog frequency and amplitude modulation ($\approx 70$ kHz bandwidth), as well as digital power switching ($> 30$ dB of extinction within $40$ ns and final extinction $> 90$ dB). The radio-frequency source can also be digitally switched between an external input and an integrated voltage-controlled oscillator. Our design is motivated by the need for flexible, inexpensive drivers of optically active devices, such as acousto-optic and electro-optic modulators.