Carrier-suppressed microwave fiber-optic source using intracavity modulation

Summary form only given. We demonstrate a carrier suppressed source that reduces the problem of relative drift between the carrier and filter wavelengths. The source consists of a ring laser cavity with an intracavity optical modulator and a frequency selective output coupler (FSOC). The FSOC transmits light at a frequency ω₀ and couples light out of the cavity for frequencies outside of the narrow passband centered around ω₀. When this optical signal is demodulated by a photodetector, the DC electrical power is reduced more than the RF power. Hence, optical amplification to the maximum photodetector DC power results in a net RF gain as compared to the case with the same DC power without carrier suppression. An advantage of this system is that the carrier field is passively locked to the frequency that is maximally transmitted through the FSOC.