Low-Cost All-Optical Up-Conversion of Digital Radio Signals Using a Directly Modulated 1550-nm Emitting VCSEL

Author

Constant, S.B. ; Le Guennec, Y. ; Maury, G. ; Corrao, N. ; Cabon, B.

Volume

20

Issue

2

fYear

2008

Firstpage

120

Lastpage

122

Abstract

The purpose of this letter is to demonstrate the extension of the modulation bandwidth of a single-mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL). The aim is to reach the radio-frequency range of wireless access networks such as ultrawide-band systems with low-cost solutions. In this letter, we have studied optical microwave mixing using nonlinear direct modulation of a VCSEL. First, the nonlinear behavior of the VCSEL near the threshold has been analyzed and explained based on frequency-mixing measurements made with continuous-wave signals. Then, we have experimentally demonstrated frequency up-conversion of a quaternary phase-shift-keying signal and a wireless local area network IEEE 802.11a signal.

Keywords

IEEE standards; digital radio; microwave photonics; optical modulation; phase shift keying; radio access networks; radio-over-fibre; surface emitting lasers; ultra wideband technology; wireless LAN; IEEE 802.11a; VCSEL; digital radio signals; low-cost all-optical up-conversion; modulation bandwidth; optical microwave mixing; quaternary phase-shift-keying signal; ultra wideband systems; wavelength 1550 nm; wireless access networks; wireless local area network; Bandwidth; Digital communication; Digital modulation; Masers; Nonlinear optics; Radio frequency; Stimulated emission; Surface emitting lasers; Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers; Wireless networks; Frequency up-conversion; optical microwave; radio-over-fiber (RoF) systems mixing; single-mode vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL); ultrawide-band (UWB); wireless local area network (WLAN);

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

1041-1135

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/LPT.2007.912543

Filename

4427283