OPTOELECTRONIC PHASE TRACKING AND ELECTROOPTIC SAMPLING OF FREE-RUNNING MICROWAVE SIGNALS UP TO 20 GHZ IN A LASER-DIODE-BASED SYSTEM

Abstract

We report optoelectronic phase-tracking and electrooptic sampling of microwave signals from a free-running oscillator in a laser-diode-based system. A voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) in a photoconductive harmonic mixer based phase-lock loop is utilized to gain switch a 0.8 mu m laser diode for phase-tracking of the microwave signal at frequencies up to 20 GHz. Phase and amplitude of the microwave signal in a microstrip Line is also measured using another 1,3-mu m laser diode driven by the VCO.