Photonic-Enabled Microwave and Terahertz Communication Systems

Abstract

An optical heterodyne technique for generating millimetre-wave and THz carriers with high spectral purity and low phase noise is described, for application to Gb/s wireless communications systems. Progress on key integrated optical components is reported. IntroductionMicrowave photonics research [1] has found applications in areas as diverse as electronic warfare and medical imaging, and the development of wireless-over-fibre systems for distribution of cellular radio and other wireless signals within large buildings and other areas where coverage from conventional hill-top sites is poor, has proved to be of considerable commercial importance, with sales of systems reaching some $250 m annually. Now, with wireless local area networks (LANs) ubiquitous and demand for higher wireless transmission rates using IEEE 802.16 and similar standards growing, new potential applications for photonics in wireless communications are emerging, to generate, modulate and detect signals at higher carrier frequencies (>60 GHz) that can support Gb/s data rates [2]. Extending this idea to terahertz frequencies may allow even higher rate, short-range wireless communications for applications such as fibre-break bridging, with the additional advantage of increased security due to the stronger atmospheric absorption at these frequencies. In this paper, we describe work towards developing key photonic components for generating millimetre wave and terahertz frequency signals and communication systems being built with them.

Monolithically Integrated Optical Phase Lock Loop for Microwave Photonics

“…It is typical for the diode lasers to have a Lorentzian linewidth in the lower megahertz range [17]. The SL linewidth was measured, using the self-heterodyne technique, with a 5 km fibre delay line, to be 1.1 MHz (FWHM) [18]. Moreover the linewidth can be additionally broadened by the noise from power supplies used to bias the laser's sections, contributing to the measured 50 MHz FWHM linewidth of the heterodyne signal generated by photomixing two free running lasers (see Fig.…”

Photonic Technologies for Millimeter- and Submillimeter-Wave Signals

“…Future challenges should address the increase of the receiver bandwidth towards 40-Gbit/s transmission and the integration of photonic components into a one-chip transmitter consisting of lasers, modulators, photodiodes, and antennas [75,76].…”

Silicon Photonics: A Review of Recent Literature

“…These scalable OEICs will likely offer better RF performance than prior "microwave boxes" together with reduced size, cost, power consumption and package complexity [51]. Two reviews [52,53] discuss the challenges and benefits of photonics in microwave communication systems, microwave oscillators, microwave filtering and microwave signal processing. These papers reveal the microwave opportunities for silicon photonics-a good example of which is the on-chip waveguided networks for optical control of microwave phased-array antennas, experiments being pursued currently by two groups.…”