mWmmWave

 

Tuneable, mW-level millimetre-wave synthesis using an optical frequency comb generator and a high-power photodiode

S. Fukushima*, C.F.C. Silva, C.P. Liu, C.C. Renaud and Alwyn Seeds

Support

NTT Photonics Laboratories, Bookham, EPSRC.

 

Introduction

For the realisation of fibre-radio and highly agile millimetre-wave communication systems, opto-electronic synthesis of millimetre-wave (mm-wave) signals is a key technology.

Results

 

We experimentally demonstrated an optical frequency comb generator (OFCG) that outputs more than 100 lines with spacings from 1 to 25 GHz.

In addition, we showed that mm-wave signals of powers greater than 2 mW can be generated directly from a high power Uni-travelling carrier (UTC) photodiode, by heterodyne photo-detection of two selected lines from the comb.

The system enables mW-level, multi-octave tuneable mm-wave synthesis because the OFCG emits comb lines over a 1.8 THz span. Furthermore, we demonstrated generation over the frequency range 10 GHz – 110 GHz, using optical injection locking for comb line selection.

 

(*) Visiting Researcher from NTT Photonics Laboratories