We report integrated coherent optical receivers designed specifically for RF Photonics applications. These receivers may be implemented in either single- or dual-polarization (DP) systems which utilize I/Q (in-phase, quadrature) phase modulation. The integrated receivers incorporate a monolithic 90 degree optical hybrid followed by eight high power-handling InGaAs photodiodes. Linear operation to +27 dBm of total optical input power, 20 mA photocurrent per diode, output third-order intercept (OIP3) > 40 dBm, third-order harmonic distortion < -100 dBc, and RF bandwidths > 4 GHz is presented. Such photoreceiver power-handling and linearity is required to optimize the photonic system spurious free dynamic range (SFDR), noise figure (NF) and link gain.

Date Published: 31 May 2013
PDF: 7 pages
Proc. SPIE 8720, Photonic Applications for Aerospace, Commercial, and Harsh Environments IV, 872011 (31 May 2013); doi: 10.1117/12.2016613

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 8720:
Photonic Applications for Aerospace, Commercial, and Harsh Environments IV
Alex A. Kazemi; Bernard C. Kress; Simon Thibault, Editor(s)