Optically tunable microwave, millimeter-wave and submillimeter-wave utilizing single-mode Fabry-Perot laser diode subject to optical feedback

Abstract

In this paper, we use optical feedback injection technique to generate tunable microwave, millimeter-wave and submillimeter-wave signals using single-mode Fabry-Perot laser diode. The beat frequency of the proposed generator ranges from 30.4 GHz to 3.40 THz. The peak power ratio between two resonating modes at the output spectrum of can be less than 0.5 dB by judiciously selecting feedback wavelength. In the stabilization test, the peak fluctuation of photonic signal is as low as 0.19 dB within half hour. Aside from locking regions, where the laser is easily locked by the injection beam, the side-mode suppression ratio is well over 25 dB with the maximum value of 36.6 dB at 30.4 GHz beat frequency. In addition, the minimum beat frequency interval between two adjacent photonic signals is as low as 10 GHz.