Optically envelope detected QAM and QPSK RF modulated signals in hybrid wireless-fiber systems

• Published in: Microwave and optical technology letters Vol. 51; no. 3; pp. 864 - 866
• Main Authors: Tafur Monroy, Idelfonso, Prince, Kamau, Seoane, Jorge, Yu, Xianbin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.03.2009
• Subjects: envelope detection; hybrid wireless-fiber systems; optical halfwave rectification; radio-over-fiber
• ISSN: 0895-2477; 1098-2760
• DOI: 10.1002/mop.24182

We experimentally demonstrate optical envelope detection of 40 Mbaud 16‐QAM and QPSK RF modulated signals. The proposed system employs an electro‐absorption modulator performing the function of an optical halfwave rectifier. In this experiment, the QAM and QPSK signals are frequency down converted from a 1.6 GHz carrier frequency to an IF at 500 MHz, requiring no high frequency local oscillator and mixer at the remote base station. This result proves the feasibility of optical envelope detection for complex modulation formats of RF signals for hybrid wireless‐fiber transmission links. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 51: 864–866, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.24182