Intensity-noise suppression in microwave-photonic links using polarization modulation

A novel microwave-photonic link is demonstrated using a unique AlGaAs-GaAs electrooptic mode-converter-based polarization modulator in a balanced output configuration. This enables suppression of common-mode intensity noise and optical-amplifier-induced beat noise using a polarization-selective balanced optical receiver. Unlike the conventional approach using a dual-output Mach-Zehnder modulator, the complementary output signals are combined naturally as orthogonal polarizations into one transmission fiber.