A single-sideband suppressed-carrier ring laser transmitter for coherent analog optical links

A single-sideband suppressed-carrier modulator was incorporated into a single mode fiber ring oscillator as an intracavity suppressed carrier transmitter for coherent analog optical links. By using an X-cut LiNbO3 modulator, BPD, low loss SSB filter, and an optical power of 700 mW at the modulator, an SFDR of 121 dB-Hz^2/3 was demonstrated. Further improvement on SFDR is possible if a linearized modulator and DSB-SC scheme are used. This suppressed carrier transceiver could provide a significantly larger SFDR than is possible using the IMDD technique and also has important advantages over the low-bias modulation technique. Ultimately, this transceiver scheme may be developed into an ultra-compact hybrid-integrated on-chip design for Navy RF link applications.