SOA-MZI All-Optical RoF Signal Mixing

Abstract: Fiber-optic transmission of high radiofrequency (RF) signals is being established as a key means for efficiently dealing with the ever-demanding bandwidth, services and cost requirements of modern broadband wireless networks and systems. Implementation of this technology critically relies on the capability of processing RF signals in the optical layer. A Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) which incorporates semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) is an attractive scheme for executing all-optically the important task of RF signal frequency transposition via mixing function. In this paper we present the progress and main outcomes obtained so far on the work carried-out to achieve this goal under collaborative project `Choraal'. In this context we characterize, evaluate, demonstrate and discuss the performance capabilities, limitations and perspectives of the SOA-MZI when it is architecturally configured to realize RF signal conversion into the microwave frequency band. Two different architectures, based on a SOA-MZI acting as an all-optical switch or as an all-optical modulator, are compared.