Microwave generation in an electro-absorption modulator integrated with a DFB laser subject to optical injection

Opt Express. 2009 Nov 23;17(24):22114-23. doi: 10.1364/OE.17.022114.

Abstract

This paper presents a new technique to generate microwave signal using an electro-absorption modulator (EAM) integrated with a distributed feedback (DFB) laser subject to optical injection. Experiments show that the frequency of the generated microwave can be tuned by changing the wavelength of the external laser or adjusting the bias voltage of the EAM. The frequency response of the EAM is studied and found to be unsmooth due to packaging parasitic effects and four-wave mixing effect occurring in the active layer of the DFB laser. It is also demonstrated that an EA modulator integrated in between two DFB lasers can be used instead of the EML under optical injection. This integrated chip can be used to realize a monolithically integrated tunable microwave source.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Absorption
  • Electronics
  • Equipment Design
  • Fiber Optic Technology
  • Lasers*
  • Light
  • Microwaves*
  • Optical Fibers
  • Optics and Photonics*
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted