This paper proposes a new approach for distributing millimeter wave signals from a central location to micro-base-stations using optical fiber links. The links utilize two Mach-Zehnder external optical modulators (EOMs) to perform all optical down-conversion, eliminating the need for a local oscillator or laser diode in the micro-base-station. A simple model of the EOMs is developed to illustrate the principle of dual-EOM mixing. The characteristics of conversion loss and intermodulation are examined for two cases: where the EOMs are operated in the linear mode and where the local oscillator's EOM is biased as a frequency doubling modulator. Additionally, we examined the use of an optical amplifier to reduce conversion loss for these two cases. The measured conversion loss of the link was 82 dB, and we estimated this could be reduced to about 48 dB by employing an optical amplifier and a more efficient EOM for RF reception.

This paper proposes a novel optical modulator for a millimeter wave (MMW) subcarrier optic link. The modulator enables the bi-phase modulation of MMW subcarriers. It simplifies the optic link by unifying such functions as IF modulation, up-convertion to MMW, and optical modulation, which are separately equipped in a conventional system. A simple model of a Mach-Zehnder external optical modulator (EOM) is used to illustrate how bi-phase modulation of millimeter wave (MMW) subcarriers can be accomplished by switching the EOM bias with a binary data signal. Experimental results are presented to confirm predictions. A wideband communications test system employing the EOM as a bi-phase modulator and utilizing spread spectrum modulation (1.3 µm optical wavelength, 40 GHz subcarrier, 100 MHz chip rate, 10MHz data rate) was developed. Bit error rate (BER) characteristics of an optical link that includes the proposed modulator are presented and compared with ideal performance and simulated predictions. Degradation of the BER characteristics from the simulation was less than 1 dB at a BER of 10-6. A frequency doubling subcarrier bi-phase modulator is also described.