Full-duplex fiber-optic RF subcarrier transmission using a dual-function modulator photodetector

An electroabsorption waveguide device is presented as a dual-function modul ator/photodetector for application as a cost-effective full-duplex transcei ver in radio-frequency (RF) fiber-optic links, The spectral modulation and detection properties of the dual-function transceiver are characterized exp erimentally. Extinction ratio, Insertion loss, and responsivity are 12 dB, 7 dB, and 0.8 A/W, respectively, Modulation and detection bandwidths are bo th in excess of 17 GHz, By employing a dual-lightwave technique, optimum mo dulation and detection performance is simultaneously achieved. Furthermore, full-duplex error-free optical transmission of RF subcarrier-multiplexed s ignals over 10-km nondispersion shifted single-mode fiber is demonstrated a nd a point-to-multipoint optical ring architecture is proposed.