Broadband microwave fiber-optic links with RF phase control for phased-array antennas

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The authors report the use of injection-locked self-pulsing laser diodes as optical transmitters in RF fiber-optic links, in which the RF phase of the transmitted signal can be continuously adjusted by simply varying the bias current into the laser. These devices are intended for use in optically-controlled phased-array antenna systems or in optical networks for the remote synchronization of antenna stations. It is demonstrated that by using a commercial, low-cost, compact-disk self-pulsing laser diode, phase shifting over a range of 180 degrees is possible over a broad operational frequency band of 1-7 GHz, with a switching time of 80 dB with proper impedance matching of the laser and photodetector.