Packaged high power MUTC photodetectors for high SFDR applications

Abstract

High-power high linearity photodetectors are desirable for applications that require high spurious free dynamic range (SFDR), such as a receive mode antenna employing a photonic link. Both the output third order (OIP3) and output second order intercept point (OIP2) of the photodetector can cause a reduction in SFDR, where OIP3 is of concern for distortion close to the fundamentals [1] and OIP2 for wideband applications [2]. Recently a packaged modified uni-traveling carrier (MUTC) photodetector was demonstrated [3]. Here we analyze those devices from both the RF power performance as well as SFDR performance for narrow and wideband link applications.