Abstract

The development of optoelectronic integrated circuits (OEIC) that combine optical and electronic functionalities on a single chip have been driven by numerous telecommunications applications including microwave-optical interfaces for radio-over-fiber picocellular networks for the next-generation wireless communication systems, also know as fourth-generation (4G) systems [1, 2]. The integration of a resonant tunnelling diode (RTD) with laser diode (LD) gives rise to a novel nonlinear optoelectronic oscillator, the RTD-LD oscillator, with innovative functionalities capable of various electro-photonic operation modes including optoelectronic voltage controlled oscillator and synchronization to low power RF signals. The circuit nonlinear behaviour is a consequence of the RTD nonlinear current-voltage characteristic that shows negative differential resistance region.

© 2009 IEEE