Seamless Fiber-Wireless Bridge in the Millimeter- and Terahertz-Wave Bands

Abstract

Fiber-wireless transmission in the terahertz-wave band as well as in the millimeter-wave band is the key for a seamless integration of radio and optical networks in a physical layer. Advanced optical fiber communication technology enables a high precision direct waveform transfer between optical and radio domains. For realization of a seamless conversion, an optical-terahertz converter is configured with optical heterodyning for an optical-to-terahertz conversion. Analog optical modulation techniques by an input millimeter-wave signal and an intermediate frequency component after a frequency downconversion are utilized for a terahertz-to-optical conversion. A quadrature phase-shift keying signal transmission in an optical-fiber-to-radio-to-optical-fiber link (fiber-wireless bridge) is successfully demonstrated with the 90 and 300-GHz signals, simultaneously, using an optical frequency comb source. The possible transmission distance in severe weather conditions in these frequency bands is also discussed.