Microwave optoelectronics — Components

The field of microwave optoelectronics is based on passive optoelectronic components and passive or controllable passive optical components.

The specificity of active optoelectronic components for the transmission or processing of microwave signals lies in the fusion of the two technologies, optoelectronics and microwave, which is characterized by the adaptation of optical and microwave fields in signal propagation.

In other words, the specifications for bandwidth, linearity and dynamics of the microwave signals to be processed will form the basis for the design of optoelectronic transduction components or electro-optical (E/O) and optoelectrical (O/E) converters.

This article will focus on the main types of components used in the design of amplitude-modulated transmission of analog microwave signals: E/O and O/E converters, optical modulators and amplifiers.

It will be complemented by a review of the main passive components used to extend the performance of optical links, such as frequency multiplexing for multicarrier transmissions.

Finally, the current development of active and passive components will be presented in a final article.

The comparative performance of the main optoelectronic microwave components, together with a list of the main suppliers, will be the subject of a specific comparative document.