Optimization of an Externally Modulated RF Photonic Link

The noise figure and sub-octave spurious-free dynamic range of a carrier-suppressed analog RF photonic link are examined. Expressions for noise figure and dynamic range are derived as a function of the modulator bias angle. A closed form expression for the bias angle that optimizes link noise figure and spurious-free dynamic range is also derived. Experimental results are presented and shown to agree with calculations. These experimental results include some of the lowest noise figure and highest dynamic range results published to date for an RF photonic link incorporating a standard Mach-Zehnder modulator: 6 dB and 122 dB·Hz^2/3, respectively.