Title :
Photodetector nonlinearity limitations on a high-dynamic range 3 GHz fiber optic link
Author :
Williams, Keith J. ; Nichols, Lee T. ; Esman, Ronald D.
Author_Institution :
Naval Res. Lab., Washington, DC, USA
fDate :
2/1/1998 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
The performance of a dc to 3 GHz externally modulated link utilizing balanced high-power photodetection is presented. Nonlinearity measurements of high power photodiodes show 1 dB compression currents in excess of 55 mA and an output third-order intercept point of +32 to +34 dBm. These high current photodetectors permit the use of high power lasers as external modulator sources for low noise fiber optic links with only small degradations in the predicted link dynamic range. An externally modulated link with a 240 mW Nd:YAG laser, a dual-output 4-V V, (dc) modulator, and balanced 100 mA total photocurrent yielded a link noise figure from 15.5 to 17.5 dB, a spur-free dynamic range of 119.5 dBHz2/3, and a 1-dB compression dynamic range of 168.4 dBHz
Keywords :
laser noise; neodymium; nonlinear optics; optical fibre networks; optical modulation; photodetectors; photodiodes; solid lasers; 100 mA; 240 mW; 3 GHz; 4 V; 55 mA; GHz fiber optic link; Nd:YAG laser; YAG:Nd; YAl5O12:Nd; balanced high-power photodetection; compression dynamic range; dB compression currents; dual-output dc modulator; external modulator sources; externally modulated link; high current photodetectors; high power lasers; high power photodiodes; high-dynamic range; link dynamic range; link noise figure; low noise fiber optic links; nonlinearity measurements; photodetector nonlinearity limitations; small degradations; spur-free dynamic range; third-order intercept point; total photocurrent; Current measurement; Dynamic range; Fiber lasers; Laser noise; Optical fibers; Optical noise; Photodetectors; Photodiodes; Power lasers; Power measurement;
Journal_Title :
Lightwave Technology, Journal of
