Millimeter-wave over fiber integrated sensing and communication system using self-coherent OFDM

Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) waveform is highly preferred as a dual-function candidate for integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) systems. However, the sensitivity to both carrier frequency offset (CFO) and phase noise greatly impedes its applications in millimeter-wave ISAC systems. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a photonic millimeter-wave ISAC system employing the virtual-carrier-aided self-coherent OFDM technique, wherein a digitally-generated local oscillator is transmitted along with the OFDM signal. Then, a compact CFO-immune and phase noise-immune envelope detection method is implemented for down-converting millimeter-wave communication and radar echo signals. In experiments, a V-band ISAC system is successfully implemented with a simplified remote radio unit, using the remote photonic millimeter-wave heterodyning up-conversion for downlink and the envelope detection-assisted down-conversion for uplink (or radar echoes). In the converged transmission link with a 5-km fiber link and 2-m space link, the Kramers–Kronig (KK) receiver supports a communication data rate up to 16-Gbit/s by mitigating signal-signal beat interference (SSBI). More significantly, the SSBI leads to negligible effects on the sensing performance when classic matched filtering is adopted for target identification. Consequently, a 4.8-cm range resolution and a 4-mm range accuracy are obtained for the radar sensing function.