Abstract

To avoid pickup and electromagnetic perturbation problems normally associated with use of metallic cables between an antenna and receiver electronics, an optical modulator and optical link are used instead. Laser light (632.8 nm) is modulated at the antenna by an electrooptica lithium tantaiate crystal and is then transmitted optically to the receiver electronics where the laser light is detected using an avalanche phototransistor. The crystal is mounted directly on the antenna without amplifiers or other active components which if present might perturb the measurements.

© 1983 Optical Society of America