Open AccessAll-optical envelope detection for radio-over- fiber links using external optical injection of a DFB laser
Author(s) -
Kamau Prince,
Idelfonso Tafur Monroy,
Jorge Seoane,
P. Jeppesen
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.16.002005
Subject(s) - envelope detector , optics , envelope (radar) , signal (programming language) , modulation (music) , optical fiber , optical communication , optical power , radio frequency , bit error rate , radio over fiber , laser , gigabit , physics , telecommunications , computer science , bandwidth (computing) , acoustics , channel (broadcasting) , amplifier , radar , programming language
We outline a novel method performing all-optical envelope detection of radio-frequency signals for radio-over-fiber links. A high frequency modulated signal with a slower-varying envelope is injected into a DFB laser which, due to gain suppression effects, recovers only the envelope of the optical signal. We characterize the DFB gain suppression effect in terms of injected signal wavelength and power level requirements. System performance is assessed, including experimental bit-error rate results; these illustrate successful envelope detection for a 20 GHz carrier with ASK modulation operating at 2.5 Gbit/second. Preliminary results at 5.5 Gbit/s show significant potential for application in hybrid optical-wireless communications networks.