RF Photonics

Author

Williamson, Richard C. ; Esman, Ronald D.

Author_Institution

Lincoln Lab., Massachusetts Inst. of Technol., Lexington, MA

Volume

26

Issue

9

fYear

2008

fDate

5/1/2008 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1145

Lastpage

1153

Abstract

In parallel with the development of fiber optics for transmission of digital information, the 1970s and 1980s saw the development of techniques for the transmission of wide-bandwidth analog radio-frequency (RF) signals over optical fibers. The simultaneous need for high linearity and high signal-to-noise in RF photonic links spurred the development of lasers, modulators and detectors matched to the special needs of such links. RF photonics was also explored for the processing of RF signals by means of optically implemented filters and variable-delay lines. Commercial applications of RF photonics included cable television signal distribution and subcarrier-multiplexed digital signals.

Keywords

cable television; community antenna television; microwave filters; microwave photonics; multiplexing; optical delay lines; optical fibre filters; optical information processing; optical modulation; photodetectors; radio-over-fibre; CATV; RF photonics; cable television signal distribution; digital information transmission; microwave communication; optical fiber communication; optical fiber delay lines; optical filters; optical modulation; photodetectors; signal processing; subcarrier-multiplexed digital signals; variable-delay lines; wide-bandwidth analog radio-frequency signals; Cable TV; Fiber lasers; Linearity; Optical fiber filters; Optical fibers; Optical filters; Optical modulation; Photonics; RF signals; Radio frequency; Analog systems; antenna feeds; cable television (CATV); microwave communication; optical fiber communication; optical fiber delay lines; optical modulation; photodetectors; signal processing;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Lightwave Technology, Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0733-8724

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/JLT.2008.923627

Filename

4542897