Optics Communications 266 (2006) 495499

www.elsevier.com/locate/optcom

Improvement of radio-on-multimode ber systems based on

light injection and optoelectronic feedback techniques
Hai-Han Lu
a

a,*

, Guan-Lin Chen a, Yao-Wei Chuang a, Chia-Chin Tsai b,

Chien-Pen Chuang b

Institute of Electro-Optical Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, 1, Section 3, Chung-Hsiao East Road,
Taipei 10608, Taiwan, ROC
b
Institute of Industrial Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan, ROC
Received 10 April 2006; received in revised form 5 May 2006; accepted 8 May 2006

Abstract
A radio-on-multimode ber (MMF) system based on vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) injection-locked and optoelectronic feedback techniques is proposed and demonstrated. Injection locking and optoelectronic feedback achieves large frequency
response of the VCSEL, resulting in good performances of intermodulation distortion to carrier ratio (IMD/C), error vector magnitude
(EVM), and bit error rate (BER). Using VCSELs as optical sources in radio-on-MMF systems are very attractive, as they are relatively
simple to fabricate and potentially low-cost. Such a proposed radio-on-MMF system is suitable for the short-haul microwave optical links.
 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Injection-locked; Optoelectronic feedback; Radio-on-multimode ber; Vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser

1. Introduction
Recently, radio-on-ber (ROF) transport systems, in
which micro-cells in a wide area connected by optical bers
and radio signals transmitted over optical ber links among
central station (CS) and base stations (BSs), have attracted
much attentions. This is because of the low loss and enormous bandwidth of the optical ber, the increasing demand
for capacity, and the benet it oers in terms of low-cost
deployment, all of which make it an ideal candidate for realizing ROF transport systems [14]. In previous studies, distributed feedback (DFB) laser diode is used as an optical
source in ROF transport systems. In ROF transport systems, vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) can
be used to replace DFB laser diode due to its low-cost [5].
Owing to the limitation of the inherent linearity characteristic, DFB laser diode has many advantages over VCSEL.
*

Corresponding author. Tel.: +886 2 27712171x4621; fax: +886 2

87733216.
E-mail address: hhlu@ntut.edu.tw (H.-H. Lu).
0030-4018/$ - see front matter  2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.optcom.2006.05.009

For the comparison of ROFDFB and ROFVCSEL, it

can be expected that the performance of ROFDFB is better than that of the ROFVCSEL. But, DFB laser diode is a
high-cost optical source. For a practical implementation of
ROF transport systems, it is necessary to develop low-cost
systems. The feasibility of employing injection-locked
VCSELs in radio-on-multimode ber (MMF) transport
systems was demonstrated previously [6]. However, systems performance can be further improved by using optoelectronic feedback technique [710]. In this paper, we
proposed and demonstrated a potentially low-cost radioon-MMF system for IEEE 802.11a/b applications based
on VCSELs injection-locked and optoelectronic feedback
techniques. Injection locking and optoelectronic feedback
achieves large frequency response of the VCSEL. VCSEL
with injection-locked exhibits an increment in frequency
response, and the optoelectronic feedback can further
enhance it [11]. Good performances of intermodulation
distortion to carrier ratio (IMD/C), error vector magnitude
(EVM), and bit error rate (BER) were obtained in our
proposed radio-on-MMF systems.

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H.-H. Lu et al. / Optics Communications 266 (2006) 495499

2. Experimental setup
The experimental system conguration of our proposed
radio-on-MMF transport systems based on VCSELs injection-locked and optoelectronic feedback techniques is present in Fig. 1. The solid line represents optical signal path,
and the dash line represents electrical signal one. The aim
is to transmit microwave signals from CS to BS over
MMF transmission. 11-Mbps data stream was initially
mixed with 2.4 GHz microwave carrier to generate the data
signal (IEEE 802.11b), and 54-Mbps data stream was initially mixed with 5.8 GHz microwave carrier to generate
the data signal (IEEE 802.11a). The resulting microwave
data signals were then combined to directly modulate the
VCSEL1. The combined data signals are injected into the
VCSEL2 via a 3-port polarization maintaining optical circulator (OC). The VCSEL2, with a central wavelength of
1590 nm, exhibits a light output of 7 dBm at a bias current
of 8 mA. The VCSEL1 is coupled into the port1 of OC, the
injection-locked VCSEL2 is coupled into the port 2 of OC,
and the port 3 of OC is separated o by a 1 2 optical splitter. This 3-port polarization maintaining OC is worth
employing due to excellent optical characteristics including
low insertion loss (0.8 dB) and high isolation (>40 dB).
Such a high isolation ability prevents reected laser light
from getting into the VCSEL1. VCSEL1 and VCSEL2 have
typically two possible polarizations, however, VCSEL1 and
VCSEL2 will have identical polarizations after passing
through the polarization maintaining OC. Half of the laser
output was used for feedback through an optoelectronic
feedback loop, and the other half of the laser output was
used for MMF transmission. In the optoelectronic feedback
loop, ber span between OC and the pin photodiode1
(PD1) is a MMF patchcord. The PD1 converts laser light
into microwave data signals to directly modulate the
VCSEL2. As to the MMF transmission part, ber transmission between OC and the PD2 is MMF with dierent length

from 0.5 to 3.5 km. After the optical signal received by the
PD2, the output of the PD2 is separated o by a 1 2 RF
splitter, then applied to the spectrum analyzer and the RF
tunable band-pass lter (TBPF) to select the appropriate
microwave signal. Through the RF TBPF, the selected
microwave signal is also separated o by a 1 2 RF splitter,
then applied to the vector signal analyzer and the demodulator. The fundamental signal and intermodulation distortion terms are investigated by two-tone signal at 2.4 and
5.8 GHz. The IMD/C value is analyzed by using a spectrum
analyzer. The EVM value is measured by using a vector signal analyzer under various MMF lengths. 11 and 54 Mbps
data signals are demodulated and fed into a BER tester for
BER analysis after demodulation.
3. Experimental results and discussions
The frequency response of the VCSEL2 for free running,
with 10 dBm light injection, as well as with 10 dBm
light injection and feedback is shown in Fig. 2. In the free
running case, the laser resonance frequency is around
2.8 GHz; with 10 dBm light injection, the laser resonance
frequency is increased to 5 GHz; with 10 dBm light injection and feedback, the laser resonance frequency is
increased up to 8.5 GHz. Injection locking achieves about
1.8 times (5/2.8  1.8) enhancement in the laser resonance
frequency; the optoelectronic feedback further enhances
the laser resonance frequency up to 3 times (8.5/2.8  3).
The rate equations for laser diode with light injection
and optoelectronic feedback techniques are given by [12]
on
I
n

  G  P k loop P t  s  P av 
1
ot eV sn


oP
1
2 p
G
PP i cosh
2
P
ot
sp
sg
r
oh
1
1 Pi
df aG  Gsi 
sinh
3
ot
2
sg P

11 Mbps
Signal
Generator
2.4GHz

OC

VCSEL1
Signal
Generator
5.8 GHz

.
2

VCSEL2

Optical
Splitter

54 Mbps

PD1
MMF Patchcord

PD2
Optical
Electrical

Spectrum
Analyzer

RF Splitter

Vector
Signal
Analyzer

MMF
RF Splitter
RF TBPF

DeModulator

BER
Tester

Fig. 1. Experimental system conguration of our proposed radio-on-MMF transport systems based on VCSELs injection-locked and optoelectronic
feedback techniques.

H.-H. Lu et al. / Optics Communications 266 (2006) 495499

10

Received RF Power (dBm)

Response (dB)

-10
free running
-20

-10 dBm injection

-10 dBm injection and feedback

-20

-40

54 dB
-60

-80

-100

-30
0

10

3.4

4.8

5.8

Frequency (GHz)
0

where g0 is the gain coecient. Out-of-phase carrier reinjection increase the photon density, in which leading to
an improvement of laser resonance frequency.
Electrical spectra of the received signals for free running,
with 10 dBm light injection, as well as with 10 dBm light
injection and feedback are present in Fig. 3(a)(c), respectively. In the free running case, the IMD/C level is 54 dBc;
with 10 dBm light injection, the residue IMD/C level is
60 dBc; with 10 dBm light injection and feedback, the
residue IMD/C level of 72 dBc is obtained. Compared
to the free running case, 6 dB value improvement of
IMD/C is obtained as light injection technique is employed.
However, a huge 18 dB IMD/C value improvement is
achieved as light injection and optoelectronic feedback
techniques are simultaneously employed. The use of light
injection and optoelectronic feedback techniques increases
the resonance frequency of VCSEL, letting system with
lower IMD/C value.
The EVM values at various MMF lengths for free running, with 10 dBm light injection, as well as with
10 dBm light injection and feedback are shown in
Fig. 4(a) and (b), respectively. EVM represents the departure from a perfectly modulated carrier, departure from
ideal amplitude gives rise to a proportional increase in

-20

-40
60 dB
-60

-80

-100

2.4

(b)

3.4

4.8

5.8

Frequency (GHz)
0

Received RF Power (dBm)

where n is the carrier density, I is the slave pumping current, V is the laser active volume, sn is the carrier lifetime,
G is the gain, P is the photon density, kloop is the feedback
coecient, s is the delay of the feedback loop, Pav is the
average photon density, sp is the photon lifetime, sg is the
cavity transit time, Pi is the external injection power, h is
the phase dierence between salve and master lasers, df is
the frequency detuning, and a is the linewidth enhancement
factor. The slave laser relaxation oscillation damping rate
Cf can be derived from the above rate equations. The optoelectronic feedback increases the stability of the laser diode
when Cf > C0 (damping rate as laser diode only with light
injection), resulting in out-of-phase carrier re-injection.
The laser resonance frequency f0 can be stated in [13]

Received RF Power (dBm)

Fig. 2. The frequency response of the VCSEL2.

g0 P
4p2 sp

2.4

(a)

Frequency (GHz)

f02

497

-20

-40
72 dB
-60

-80

-100

(c)

2.4

3.4

4.8

5.8

Frequency (GHz)

Fig. 3. (a) Electrical spectra of the received signal for free running. (b)
Electrical spectrum of the received signal with 10 dBm light injection. (c)
Electrical spectrum of the received signal with 10 dBm light injection and
feedback.

EVM. For the IEEE 802.11a standard (5.8 GHz/54 Mbps),

the worst case EVM should not exceed 5.6%; for the IEEE
802.11b standard (2.4 GHz/11 Mbps), the worst case EVM
should not exceed 3.5%. For 2.4 GHz/11 Mbps data signal;
in the free running case, the EVM value can be satised at
1.5 km MMF length, with a ber bandwidth of 3.6 GHz km
(2.4 GHz 1.5 km). With 10 dBm light injection, the
EVM value can be satised at 2 km MMF length, with a
ber bandwidth of 4.8 GHz km (2.4 GHz 2 km). With

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H.-H. Lu et al. / Optics Communications 266 (2006) 495499

free running
-10 dBm injection
-10 dBm injection and feedback
4

EVM (%)

0
0

0.5

1.5

2.5

3.5

MMF Length (km)

(a)

free running
-10 dBm injection
-10 dBm injection and feedback
6
5

are plotted in Fig. 5(a) and (b), respectively. For 2.4 GHz/
11 Mbps data signal at a BER of 109; in the free running
case, the received optical power is 21.4 dBm; with
10 dBm light injection, the received optical power is
24.3 dBm; with 10 dBm light injection and feedback,
the received optical power is 30 dBm. Compared to the
free running case, 8.6 dB of the received optical power
reduction is achieved when light injection and optoelectronic feedback techniques are simultaneously employed.
For 5.8 GHz/54 Mbps data signal at a BER of 109; in
the free running case, the received optical power is
21 dBm; with 10 dBm light injection, the received optical
power is 23.8 dBm; with 10 dBm light injection and feedback, the received optical power is 29.6 dBm. Compared
to the free running case, 8.6 dB of the received optical power
reduction is achieved when light injection and optoelectronic feedback techniques are simultaneously employed.
Most injection locking experiments involving data transmission have the follower laser (VCSEL2) modulated.
In this experiment, VCSEL1 is modulated. It has been previously predicted that in such a conguration, there should
free running

EVM (%)

-10 dBm injection

-10 dBm injection and feedback

3
10

10-6

0.5

1.5

2.5

BER

10-7

(b)

-5

10-9

MMF Length (km)

10-10

Fig. 4. (a) The EVM values at various MMF lengths (2.4 GHz/11 Mbps).
(b) The EVM values at various MMF lengths (5.8 GHz/54 Mbps).

10-11
-35

-32

(a)

-29

-26

-23

-20

-17

-20

-17

Received Optical Power ( dBm )

free running
-10 dBm injection
-10 dBm injection and feedback
10 -5
10 -6
10 -7

BER

10 dBm light injection and feedback, the EVM value can
be satised at 3.5 km MMF length, with a ber bandwidth
of 8.4 GHz km (2.4 GHz 3.5 km). Compared to the free
running case, 4.8 GHz km ber bandwidth improvement
is obtained as light injection and optoelectronic feedback
techniques are simultaneously employed. For 5.8 GHz/
54 Mbps data signal; in the free running case, the EVM
value can be satised at 1.2 km MMF length, with a ber
bandwidth of 6.96 GHz km (5.8 GHz 1.2 km). With
10 dBm light injection, the EVM value can be satised
at 1.8 km MMF length, with a ber bandwidth of
10.44 GHz km (5.8 GHz 1.8 km). With 10 dBm light
injection and feedback, the EVM value can be satised at
3 km MMF length, with a ber bandwidth of 17.4 GHz km
(5.8 GHz 3 km). Compared to the free running case,
10.44 GHz km ber bandwidth improvement is obtained
as light injection and optoelectronic feedback techniques
are simultaneously employed.
The measured BER curves as a function of the received
optical power for free running, with 10 dBm light injection, as well as with 10 dBm light injection and feedback

10-8

10 -8
10 -9
10 -10
10 -11
-35

(b)

-32

-29

-26

-23

Received Optical Power ( dBm )

Fig. 5. (a) The measured BER curves as a function of the received optical
power (2.4 GHz/11 Mbps). (b) The measured BER curves as a function of
the received optical power (5.8 GHz/54 Mbps).

H.-H. Lu et al. / Optics Communications 266 (2006) 495499

be a signicant attenuation of the data [14]. In this experiment, with 10 dBm light injection technique only, the
modulation suppression is 30 dB. However, with 10 dBm
light injection and optoelectronic feedback techniques
simultaneously, the modulation suppression is decreased
to 14 dB. Systems transmission performance aected by
low modulation suppression value is limited. Optoelectronic feedback technique causes out-of-phase carrier reinjection, and thereby increases laser resonance frequency.
The lasers resonance frequency f0 can be approximated by
[15,16]

1=2
3G
f0
I b  I th
5
4p2 q
where q is the electron charge, Ib is the bias current, and Ith
is the threshold current. It shows that f0 increases with a
decreased threshold current. Optoelectronic feedback technique increases laser resonance frequency, leading to
threshold current reduction, nally resulting in higher optical power launched into the ber. The higher optical power
we get, the lower modulation suppression we obtain. Optoelectronic feedback technique is employed as a compensation scheme to compensate for the modulation suppression.
4. Conclusion
We proposed and demonstrated a potentially low-cost
radio-on-MMF system for IEEE 802.11a/b applications
based on VCSELs injection-locked and optoelectronic
feedback techniques. Good performances of IMD/C,
EVM, and BER were obtained in our proposed systems.
Such a proposed radio-on-MMF system will benet the
deployment of the short-haul microwave optical link.

499

Acknowledgment
The authors thank the nancial support from the National Science Council of the Republic of China under
Grant NSC 94-2215-E-027-001.
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