Fiber optic microwave transmission using harmonic modulation and optoelectronic mixing/optically pumped mixing

Abstract

The authors propose two configurations of fiber-optic links for use in microwave and millimeter-wave transmissions. Harmonic generation and optoelectronic mixing/optically pumped mixing are successfully utilized in the fiber-optic links. The performance of laser diodes as harmonic modulators is experimentally investigated in the 10-GHz band. The p-i-n photodiode is used as an optoelectronic microwave mixer and an optically pumped microwave mixer, and the microwave characteristics of the mixers are demonstrated. It is concluded that the two fiber-optic links are promising for transmission at microwave and millimeter-wave frequencies.<>