Graphical Approach for Evaluating Performance Limitations in Externally Modulated Analog Photonic Links

Author

Bucholtz, Frank ; Urick, Vincent J. ; Godinez, Modesto ; Williams, Keith J.

Author_Institution

Naval Res. Lab., Washington

Volume

56

Issue

1

fYear

2008

Firstpage

242

Lastpage

247

Abstract

We present a novel graphical approach for evaluating the performance of analog photonic links employing an external intensity modulator biased at quadrature. A single graph is sufficient to grasp the engineering tradeoffs among noise figure, third-order spurious-free dynamic range, and RF gain for various values of half-wave voltage and dc photocurrent.

Keywords

Mach-Zehnder interferometers; electro-optical modulation; graph theory; intensity modulation; microwave photonics; optical fibre communication; optical links; DC photocurrent values; Mach-Zehnder modulators; RF gain; external intensity modulator; externally modulated analog photonic links; graphical approach; half-wave voltage values; microwave photonics; noise figure; quadrature bias; third-order spurious-free dynamic range; Dynamic range; Equations; Impedance; Intensity modulation; Noise measurement; Optical modulation; Photoconductivity; Photodetectors; Radio frequency; Voltage; Analog photonics; microwave photonics; photonic links;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Microwave Theory and Techniques, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9480

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TMTT.2007.912224

Filename

4405557