Introduction to linear photonics (sending RF/microwave over fiber)

Microwave photonics is the practice of using optical carriers to generate, process, or distribute signals in the microwave spectrum. In this paper, techniques for the optical distribution of microwave signals are described. In general, these systems employ microwave links which involve: 1) the modulation and demodulation of microwave information with respect to an optical carrier, 2) the propagation of the modulated signal on fiber optic cables, and 3) the limitations to the fidelity of the signal, which are due to both linear and nonlinear processes.