An optically-efficient RF modulator

• Published in: OFC/IOOC . Technical Digest. Optical Fiber Communication Conference, 1999, and the International Conference on Integrated Optics and Optical Fiber Communication Vol. 3; pp. 287 - 289 vol.3
• Main Authors: Havstad, S.A., Wickham, M.G., Heflinger, D.G., Nachman, P., Brock, J.C.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: IEEE 1999
• Subjects: Erbium-doped fiber lasers; High speed optical techniques; Optical attenuators; Optical modulation; Optical noise; Optical signal processing; Optical transmitters; Radio frequency; Space technology; Transfer functions

Our RF modulator uses a novel arrangement of two low-biased Mach-Zehnder modulators within a ring laser, eliminating resonances and improving efficiency by over 7 dB relative to an externally modulated configuration. This will be useful for DC power-limited analog photonic links.