Abstract

The paper presents a new device for analog optical links, the balanced electroabsorption modulator, to allow the simultaneous cancellation of laser relative intensity noise, all even-order distortions, and third order intermodulation. The RF photonic link employing the new balanced modulator shows great improvement in the overall link performance with respect to conventional links using a single electroabsorption modulator. Moreover, it favorably compares with the to date highest performance links employing lithium niobate cross-coupled Mach-Zehnder modulators, proving itself an enabling technology for placement of all-semiconductor radio-frequency lightwave transmitters in high performance analog fiber optic links.