Sub-10-dB Noise Figure in a Multiple-GHz Analog Optical Link

We present the first microwave analog optical link to achieve a noise figure (NF) below 10 dB. A link gain of up to ~6dB and common-mode noise rejection achieved via a dual-output Mach-Zehnder intensity modulator and differential detection enable us to achieve link NFs as low as ~7.5 dB in the range of ~2-6.5 GHz