Component Technologies For Microwave Photonic Systems

Abstract

The use of fibre optics allows us to construct microwave links which have very low propagation loss and dispersion, are very flexible and light in weight, and have a high degree of immunity from external electromagnetic fields, crosstalk and environmental effects. This combination of desirable characteristics has stimulated considerable research and development for over a decade, with the result that we are now seeing the deployment of fibre optics in both commercial and military systems. In this paper, we review some of the component developments which have made these systems possible and we indicate areas for further research.