Telecom wavelength optical processor for wideband spectral analysis of radiofrequency signals

In this paper we present a spectral analyzer for wideband RF signals with a spectral hole-burning-based architecture operating at telecom wavelength. This device is based on a codoped Er3 + :Sc3 + :Y2SiO5 crystal whose inhomogeneous linewidth allows for wideband operation. With time-resolved holeburning spectroscopy experiments we study the homogeneous linewidth and spectral diffusion in an unusual magnetic field configuration. We finally demonstrate the spectral analysis of RF signals with 28 GHz instantaneous bandwidth and MHz resolution. This work opens the way towards more complex architectures such as direction finding with wideband capacity.