SIGNAL GENERATION USING PULSED SEMICONDUCTOR-LASERS FOR APPLICATION IN MILLIMETER-WAVE WIRELESS LINKS

We investigate the generation of signals using pulsed semiconductor la sers for application in millimeter-wave (mm-wave) wireless links. The generation of mm-wave harmonic frequencies in both mode-locked and gai n-switched lasers is considered and a method to generate mm-wave modul ated optical signals with modulation depths approaching 100% is implem ented. The technique uses optical filtering to select only two optical modes in the pulsed laser spectrum that beat together in a highspeed photodiode. The application of this method to the feeding of mm-wave w ireless links incorporating microstrip patch antennas is demonstrated. These optically fed links have application in indoor wireless LAN's a nd optical fiber microcellular systems.