27 Gbit/s photonic wireless 60 GHz transmission system using 16-QAM OFDM

In this paper, we present a simple architecture for a super-broadband 60 GHz photonic wireless system. Using a cascaded optical RF and data modulation approach, advanced photonic components and a high-spectral efficient QAM-OFDM modulation format, we realized a compact 60 GHz photonic wireless system having a spectral efficiency as large as 3.86 bit/s/Hz. By making use of the 7 GHz spectral bandwidth in the 60 GHz band which was opened up for unlicensed broadband wireless services worldwide, we achieved record data throughputs. For example, by using a 16-QAM OFDM subcarrier modulation, we experimentally demonstrate photonic wireless transmission of 27.04 Gbit/s with a mean EVM of 17.63%. Wireless experiments were carried out in a lab environment with a maximum transmit power of -1 dBm and 23 dBi gain antennas for a wireless span of 2.5 m. This can be extended to some 100 m span when using high-gain antennas and higher transmit power levels.