Photonic Integration Transmitter and Receiver Components for RF Links with Gain

Abstract : Optical links have many advantages over microwave links for a wide range of applications, including phased array radars, antennas, remoting, and microwave signal processing. Some major limitations in the deployment of optical links has been the large drive voltages, link loss, and limited linearity. The goal of the UCSB program was the demonstration of novel device concepts, innovative integration techniques, and interesting link concepts to address these issues. Significant contributions have been made in all these areas, including very low voltage traveling wave modulators exceeding the program goal of 0.5 V, electroabsorption modulators integrated with tunable lasers, and novel links to simultaneously reduce the second and third order nonlinearity. The report provides details on devices, circuits, links, and their performance.