Effect of Laser Noise on an Analog RF/Photonic Link

Aset of equations has been formulated to enable quantification of several aspects of the performance of an analog photonic communication link as affected by laser noise. A procedure for measuring the laser noise has been devised to provide laser-noise data for use in the equations. The equations and procedure are generally applicable to diverse analog photonic links, in the design and operation of which laser noise is of great concern. Analog photonic links have been found to be useful as subsystems, radio-antenna-arraying systems, optoelectronic oscillators, and wide-band signal-processors.