Phase stability of optical self-heterodyned microwave signals with Nd:YVO4 laser

Abstract

This paper concerns the phase stability of an opto-electronic QAM-over-Fiber transmitter, which generates complex modulated radio signals directly in the optical domain. The transmitter is based on a single wavelength tunable Nd:YVO4-LiNbO3 electro-optic microchip laser and a simple self-heterodyne fiber optic arrangement without phase stabilization feedback. Using a narrow, 10 kHz linewidth laser and high-pass phase-noise filtering of the time-delay self-heterodyne (TDSH) arrangement provides for excellent microwave signal quality.