OIL-VCSEL-Based Microwave-Photonics Transceiver for a Millimeter-Wave Fronthaul

Abstract

We propose a new solution to design a microwave-photonics transceiving hardware for fifth-generation telecom systems of combined Radio-over-Fiber architecture that are considered as a very promising approach for millimeter-wave mobile front hauling, in particular for prospective fixed small cells in metropolitan areas and moving cells in high-speed railways. The contribution describes the layout of the transceiver under study that uses optically injection locked LW-VCSEL simultaneously operating as direct modulated laser and resonant cavity enhanced photodetector, and the results of its experimental investigation to characterize the static and dynamic features in free-running or optical injection-locked modes, and small-signal gain vs RF frequency characteristics for downlink and uplink channels.