Abstract
The performance of a Gain Switched (GS) optical source used as a Photonic
Local Oscillator (PLO) in an Electro-Optical (EO) heterodyne receiver is experimentally
evaluated and compared to the use of a traditional linearly modulated PLO.
The EO heterodyne receiver used is based on an Ultra Nonlinear Semiconductor
Optical Amplifier (XN-SOA) that provides a compact, cost effective and energy
efficient receiver with a remote distribution of both PLO and Intermediate
Frequency (IF) signals and a direct 50-ohms input for the Radiofrequency (RF)
component. The comparison between both GS and linearly modulated PLO is made
in terms of the conversion efficiency (conversion ratio); linearity (1-dB
compression point) and noise (integrated RMS timing jitter). The analysis
results in a significant improvement of the evaluated figures of merit when
using a Gain Switched PLO.
© 2013 IEEE
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