Microwave optical links: A new generation of optoelectronic integrated circuits

The use of optics for microwave applications open a new field for optoelectronic devices and integrated circuits. In this paper, we discuss first on the main requirements of optoelectronic devices to improve and optimize the quality of microwave optical links. We focus particularly on microwave optical links based on direct modulation, showing that, for an ideal case, a microwave gain could be achieved. A part of the high signal loss of the link can be attributed to the microwave electrical mismatch of optoelectronic devices. As a first example of a new optoelectronic integrated circuit specially designed for a microwave optical link, we present the first monolithic integration of reactive matching networks with GaInAsP optoelectronic devices on semi-insulating InP substrate.