Method and apparatus for photonic digital-to-analog conversion

An apparatus receiving a digital signal waveform having a plurality of significant bits of resolution, comprising:

• a mode locked laser comprising a single output synchronous with the digital signal waveform;
• a beam divider operable to receive the single output;
• a plurality of optical amplitude modulators operable to communicate with said beam divider and operable to receive a respective plurality of signals corresponding to a plurality of significant bits of resolution of the digital signal waveform;
• a beam combiner operable to communicate with said plurality of optical modulators, and a band pass filter operable to communicate with said beam combiner;
• and
• a photodetector operable to communicate with said band pass filter and operable to output an analog output waveform representing the digital signal waveform having the plurality of significant bits of resolution.

An apparatus receiving a digital signal waveform having a plurality of significant bits of resolution, comprising:

• one of a pulsed laser with a plurality of pulsed laser outputs synchronous with the digital signal waveform and a plurality of pulsed lasers;
• a beam divider operable to communicate with said one of a pulsed laser with a plurality of pulsed laser outputs and a plurality of pulsed lasers;
• a plurality of optical amplitude modulators operable to communicate with said beam divider and operable to receive a respective plurality of signals corresponding to a plurality of significant bits of resolution of the digital signal waveform;
• and
• a low pass filter operable to communicate with said plurality of optical modulators and operable to output an analog output waveform representing the digital signal waveform having the plurality of significant bits of resolution.

An apparatus receiving a digital signal waveform having a plurality of significant bits of resolution, comprising:

• one of a pulsed laser with a plurality of pulsed laser outputs synchronous with the digital signal waveform and a plurality of pulsed lasers;
• a beam divider operable to communicate with said one of a pulsed laser with a plurality of pulsed laser outputs and a plurality of pulsed lasers;
• a plurality of optical amplitude modulators operable to communicate with said beam divider and operable to receive a respective plurality of signals corresponding to a plurality of significant bits of resolution of the digital signal waveform;
• a beam combiner operable to communicate with said plurality of optical modulators, and
• a band pass filter operable to communicate with said beam combiner;
• and
• a photodetector operable to communicate with said band pass filter and operable to output an analog output waveform representing the digital signal waveform having the plurality of significant bits of resolution.