Tuning of an RF Optoelectronic Oscillator

Abstract

In this paper tunable RF optoelectronic oscillator based upon direct modulation of laser diode and an optical fiber RF filter is demonstrated using the dc driving current of the laser diode. The use of the optical fiber RF filter allows a sidemode suppression ratio of 30 dB at discrete oscillation frequencies with frequency step equals to the intrinsic modes of the feedback loop or the filter free spectral range. Experimental results are presented to verify the theoretical analysis