Microwave photonics: New direction between microwave and photonic technologies

This article attempts an overview of microwave photonics, a field that has recently been attracting interest. First, techniques of conversion between the optical signal and the microwave/millimeter-wave signal and, hence, tec hniques of optical modulation by microwave and millimeter-wave signals and techniques of demodulation of optical signal modulated by microwave and mil limeter-wave signals, are investigated from the microwave photonics points of view. Technological characteristics and research,uch trends are describe d. Typical microwave photonics applications are presented and future possib ilities are investigated. (C) 1999 Scripta Technica, Electron Comm Jpn Pt 2 , 82(6): 46-54, 1999.