Optoelectronic RF signal mixing using an electroabsorption waveguide as an integrated photodetector/mixer

We demonstrate for the first time an electroabsorption (EA) waveguide utilized as an integrated photodetector/mixer for frequency conversion of radio frequency signals, through field-controlled absorption. Using an InAsP-GaInP multiple-quantum-well EA waveguide, a conversion loss of 18.9 dB was obtained at 10-mW optical local oscillator (LO) power, and a suboctave, two-tone spur-free dynamic range of 120.0 dB-Hz/sup 4/5/ was measured for an up-converted signal at 1.9 GHz. This scheme can be useful in antenna applications where optical LO signal distribution is used for frequency converting microwave signals.