Abstract Photonic-assisted technique employed in the generation of stable and high-purity signals in the millimeter wave band has been investigated using dual-parallel Mach-Zehnder modulator. Indeed, this type of generation performs a high order RF multiplier, whose operation principle steams out from the nonlinear characteristic of the external modulators. Its application in direct-detection fiber optic link was investigated based on an exact formulation that properly takes into account both the dispersion of a single mode fiber and the modulator nonlinearity. Analytic expression for the link transfer function dependence with respect to both modulator bias point and modulation index were obtained. It is worthwhile to mention that RF tuning is enabled since no optical filtering is required. As an illustration of the modeling usefulness, it is analytically shown that a 60 GHz millimeter signal, generated by photonic quadruplicating a 15 GHz signal using dual-parallel Mach-Zehnder modulator, can be transmitted through a 80 km link of standard single mode fiber with less than 0.1 dB deviation with respect to ideal flat response. This performance is much better than previously published results.

ABSTRACT: This paper addresses the subject of fiber optic chromatic dispersion effect on the performance of analog optical link with dual-drive electro-optic Mach-Zehnder modulator, aiming at aerospace applications. Thus, a direct detection link model that emphasizes both the modulator electronic drive and the dispersion characteristic of a linear optical fiber is discussed. Furthermore, a mathematical approach yielding a rather insightful analysis of the link performance for either optical double or single sideband modulation formats is fully discussed. It is worthwhile to point out that such modeling has the special feature of relying on a uniform nomenclature, which enables one to quickly retrieve a wide range of known results regarding optical fiber link performance that are already available on an ample literature. The model usefulness is illustrated by predicting the performance dependence of a direct detection fiber optic link with respect to the radiofrequency and link length. Results of numerical simulations for a link that comprises commercial optoelectronic components with potential for practical application on electronic warfare field were also provided.