Multi-channel photonic frequency upconverter using a single electro-absorption modulator for generating WDM RoF signals

Generation of wavelength division multiplexing radio-over-fiber (WDM RoF) signals utilizing a multi-channel photonic frequency upconverter using an electro-absorption modulator (EAM) was investigated. Eight WDM optical radio frequency (RF) signals having the RF frequency of 28.5 GHz within the wavelength range of 1545.26 - 1550.92 nm were generated simultaneously by mixing eight WDM optical intermediate frequency (IF) signals having the IF frequency of 4.5 GHz with an electrical local oscillator (LO) signal of 24 GHz in the EAM. The simultaneously generated eight channels of WDM optical RF signals showed the variation of receiver sensitivity (at BER of 10^-9) less than 0.5 dB, indicating that there exists negligible crosstalk.