Low Noise Figure, Wide Bandwidth Analog Optical Link

We report achieving a record low noise figure for an amplifierless fiber-optic link — ≤ 15 dB over the frequency range 1.0 – 9.5 GHz — via a combination of a low-V
π
Mach-Zehnder modulator with two antiphase outputs, a high-power laser, and a balanced photodetector pair. We also present a complete model for this link that predicts its measured performance to within 1 dB.