We have analyzed the linearity performance of analog fiber-optic links based on electroabsorption modulators (EAM) operating at high optical power. The negative feedback caused by photocurrent generation improves the modulator linearity in the gain saturation regime. In the absence of laser relative intensity noise (RIN), the link spur-free dynamic range (SFDR) increases with the power of four-thirds of the input optical power after gain saturation occurs. A multi-octave SFDR of more than 135 dB/Hz(2/3) has been found to be achievable with sufficiently high power. (c) 2007 Optical Society of America

An up-converting microwave photonic link which enables high dynamic range over a multioctave information bandwidth is demonstrated. The improvement in spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) as compared to conventional links is experimentally demonstrated. The link consists of two heterodyned lasers with one optical carrier modulated by a LiNbO3 Mach-Zehnder modulator biased at the null point. This results in strong optical sidebands, minimum even order distortion, and more than similar to40-dB suppression of the-optical carrier. The first carrier's two optical sidebands are heterodyned with the second unmodulated optical carrier. The modulated optical carrier is suppressed reducing noise power and enhancing SFDR. An SFDR of 115 dB/Hz(2/3) was measured. The detected local oscillator power is also suppressed, easing output filtering requirements.