High-efficiency directly modulated laser links

We report a new type of high-performance RF-lightwave transmitter, which can provide >10 dB RF insertion gain at <0 dBm optical power with high spur-free dynamic range and low noise characteristics in an analog fiber link The insertion gain of the transmitter is obtained from the device FM-gain provided by a high-FM -efficiency laser and a high slop efficiency FM discriminator. An integrated version of such a device will be ideal for future RF-photonic links.