Tunable compensation of dispersion-induced RF power degradation in multiple-channel SCM transmission by nonlinearly-chirped FBGs

Summary form only given. For many applications, it is quite advantageous to transmit several analog or digital subcarrier-multiplexed (SCM) RF channels over a fiber link or network. These applications include: CATV, interfacing wireless networks, microwave photonic systems, and transmitting control information for optical packet switching. However, transmitting traditional double-sideband (DSB) signals over a fiber is problematic due to the fiber's chromatic dispersion in which the two sidebands walk-off from each other. This causes serious RF power fading and is a function of subcarrier frequency and accumulated fiber dispersion. We report the use of a nonlinearly-chirped fiber Bragg grating to tunably compensate for dispersion-induced RF power degradation in multiple-channel SCM transmission.