Open AccessPhase-stable, downconverting, microwave photonic link with analysis of balanced heterodyne detection intermodulation
Author(s) -
Calvin Harrington,
Tia Sharpe,
Jason R. Dahl,
Zeb W. Barber
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
applied optics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.668
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 2155-3165
pISSN - 1559-128X
DOI - 10.1364/ao.57.005273
Subject(s) - intermodulation , optics , heterodyne (poetry) , heterodyne detection , microwave , phase noise , photonics , materials science , telecommunications , physics , bandwidth (computing) , computer science , laser , acoustics , amplifier
A coherent downconverting microwave photonic link using balanced heterodyne detection of single-sideband modulated optical signals is analyzed and demonstrated. The intermodulation analysis shows that the second-order photodetector nonlinearity can be the limiting factor in the third-order intermodulation spur performance. The link is designed to phase coherently downconvert 17 GHz of bandwidth in an extended K-band (23-45 GHz) to 1-18 GHz to match the capabilities of modern receivers. The application of the link is for a low-loss >20 μs analog buffer. Spur performance of 112.4 dB/Hz (2/3) is demonstrated when background noise is limited by shot noise.