Simple approach for Doppler frequency shift estimation based on a dual-polarization quadrature phase shift keying (DP-QPSK) modulator

A simple approach to estimating microwave Doppler frequency shift (DFS) based on a single dual-polarization quadrature phase shift keying (DP-QPSK) modulator is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The scheme is capable of estimating both the value and direction of the DFS simultaneously and precisely owing to the introduction of the reference signal. In the proposed approach, the transmitted signal (microwave carrier) and the reference signal are loaded on the upper branch of the DP-QPSK modulator to generate carrier suppression double-sideband signals, respectively, while the echo signal is loaded on the lower branch of the DP-QPSK modulator to perform carrier suppression single-sideband modulation. Then optical sidebands of two branches are combined and sent to a low-speed photodetector to heterodyne. The value of the DFS is equivalent to the frequency of the beat signal between the transmitted and reference signals; meanwhile, the direction can be distinguished by comparing the frequency of the beat signal between the transmitted and reference signals with the frequency of the beat signal between the echo and reference signals. In the experiment, the accurate measurement of DFSs from $ - {100}\;{\rm kHz}$-100kHz to $ + {100}\;{\rm kHz}$+100kHz at the carrier frequencies of 15, 20, 35, and 39 GHz is implemented with errors less than $ \pm {10}\;{\rm Hz}$±10Hz.