Analog microwave photonic link based on a high power directly modulated laser, a high power photodiode and passive impedance matching

We report on the design and characterization of a high-power and high dynamic range directly modulated analog fiber optic link in the S (2-4 GHz) band. The link is amplifier free, and uses passive impedance matching networks associated to high power laser diode and high power photodiode. Thanks to the high components efficiencies, together with the benefit of reactive impedance matchings, we achieved a high gain (≥ 0 dB) over 500 MHz bandwidths. Moreover, the use of high power and high linearity components allowed us to achieve simultaneously an output -1dB compression point higher than 20 dBm, and an output third order intercept point (OIP3) of more than 31 dBm. The measured spurious free dynamic range is as high as 114 dB.Hz^2/3.