Optical receiver and modulator frequency response measurement with a Nd:YAG ring laser heterodyn technique

Author

Tan, Tun S. ; Jungerman, Roger L. ; Elliott, Scott S.

Author_Institution

Hewlett-Packard Co., Santa Rosa, CA, USA

Volume

37

Issue

8

fYear

1989

fDate

8/1/1989 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1217

Lastpage

1222

Abstract

A description is given of how the frequency response of optical receivers can be accurately calibrated by measuring a heterodyne signal generated by mixing two Nd:YAG ring lasers. One laser signal passes through the modulator while the other functions as a local oscillator to convert one of the sidebands of the modulated carrier to a fixed intermediate signal. This heterodyne system offers more than 50 dB of dynamic range. Calibration of both optical phase and amplitude modulators is achieved. The technique presented eliminates the need for a high-speed photoreceiver, has a good signal-to-noise ratio, and makes measurement of phase modulator frequency response possible

Keywords

frequency response; measurement by laser beam; optical communication equipment; optical modulation; ring lasers; solid lasers; YAG:Nd; YAl5O12:Nd; amplitude modulators; dynamic range; frequency response; heterodyn technique; local oscillator; optical receivers; phase modulators; sidebands; signal-to-noise ratio; Dynamic range; Frequency measurement; Frequency modulation; Frequency response; Local oscillators; Optical modulation; Optical receivers; Phase modulation; Ring lasers; Signal generators;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Microwave Theory and Techniques, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9480

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/22.31081

Filename

31081