An overview of analog microwave photonics will be presented. The performance requirements for externally-modulated analog microwave photonic links will be reviewed with specific emphasis placed on modulator efficiency, laser noise, detected photocurrent, and link linearity.

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/iel5/6387506/6403300/06403360.pdf

Microwave photonics

The low-loss wide bandwidth capability of opto-electronic systems makes them attractive for the transmission and processing of microwave signals, while the development of high-capacity optical communication systems has required the use of microwave techniques in optical transmitters and receivers. These two strands have led to the development of the research area of microwave photonics. This paper reviews the development status of microwave photonic devices, describes their systems applications, and suggests some likely areas for future development

Microwave Photonics

The low-loss wide-bandwidth capability of optoelectronic systems makes them attractive for the transmission and processing of microwave signals, while the development of high-capacity optical communication systems has required the use of microwave techniques in optical transmitters and receivers. These two strands have led to the development of the research area of microwave photonics. This paper describes the development of microwave photonic devices, describes their systems applications, and suggests likely areas for future development.

In this paper a tutorial of optical injection locking of semiconductor lasers is given, with particular emphasis on the enhancement of system parameters. Furthermore, physical intuition of each parameter enhancement is explained and practical design rules and trends are also shown.

Enhanced Modulation Characteristics of Optical Injection-Locked Lasers: A Tutorial

The use of optically controlled devices to perform a range of circuit functions is reviewed. The optical control of amplifier performance is discussed. The optical control of two- and three-terminal oscillators and optically pumped mixers is discussed. Among the active devices treated are Gunn and IMPATT oscillators; MESFET and HEMT amplifiers, oscillators, and mixtures; and diode mixers. Future directions for research in this area are discussed. >

Optical control of microwave semiconductor devices

An experiment is described in which the output of a GaAlAs laser, modulated at 2.345 GHz, was used to optically injection lock a GaAs metal semiconductor field effect transistor oscillator. A substantial reduction of the FM noise of the field effect transistor oscillator, associated with locking to the more stable modulation signal applied to the laser, was obtained. The locking range obtained was 5 MHz, but possibilities for considerably increasing this are suggested.

J. R. Forrest

Papers

Initial observations of optical injection locking of GaAs metal semiconductor field effect transistor oscillators