Monolithically Integrated Virtual Balanced ACP-OPLL for PM RF Photonic Links

We present the analysis, design, fabrication, and measurement of the attenuating counter-propagating optical phase locked loop (ACP-OPLL) photonic integrated circuit with a virtual balanced device structure for high dynamic range RF photonic links. The virtual balanced design not only significantly reduces fabrication complexity, but also improves the optical loss performance. The virtual balanced ACP-OPLL demonstrated the best linear phase demodulation performance among the OPLL photonic integrated circuits.