High-dynamic-range, low-noise analog optical links using external modulators: analysis and demonstration

Gary E. Betts; Leonard M. Johnson; Charles H. Cox III

doi:10.1117/12.24874

1 February 1991 High-dynamic-range, low-noise analog optical links using external modulators: analysis and demonstration

Gary E. Betts, Leonard M. Johnson, Charles H. Cox III

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 1371, High-Frequency Analog Fiber Optic Systems; (1991) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.24874
Event: SPIE Microelectronic Interconnect and Integrated Processing Symposium, 1990, San Jose, United States

Abstract

Analog fiber-optic links using an integrated-optical intensity modulator have been demonstrated. These links operate at frequencies from 50 MHz to 22 GHz with electrical gain u to 1 1 dB noise figure as low as 6 dB and intermodulation-free dynamic range of up to 1 13 dBHz2/3. The design factors determining optical link performance are discussed briefly and the effect of adding electronic amplifiers is analyzed. SUMMARY Analog optical links are attractive for many applications ranging from cable television distribution to radar-signal transmission at microwave frequencies. These systems often require a link with a low noise figure low electrical insertion loss and high dynamic range. We have demonstrated several intensitymodulated optical links that use a diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser and an integrated-optical modulator to achieve high performance by all these measures. 13 We will first discuss these experimental links and then show how their performance could be improved further by adding electronic amplifiers. Figure 1 illustrates the optical link used in our experiments with an electronic preamplifier and postamplifier added. (The experimental results reported here refer to the electrical ports of the optical link Figure 1. Block diagram of the optical link with an electronic preamplifier (Al) and postamplifier (A3) added. (Experimental results in the paper refer to the optical link alone without the amplifiers. ) 252 / SPIE Vol 1371 High-Frequency Analog Fiber Optic Systems(1990) OPTICAL LINK 161 884-1 INTEGRATED-OPTICAL PIN

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Gary E. Betts, Leonard M. Johnson, and Charles H. Cox III "High-dynamic-range, low-noise analog optical links using external modulators: analysis and demonstration", Proc. SPIE 1371, High-Frequency Analog Fiber Optic Systems, (1 February 1991); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.24874

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