Optical-Microwave Interactions in Semiconductor Devices.
Abstract
Optical illumination of solid-state microwave devices is a promising method of controlling high-power microwave signals at high speed. Microwave generation, switching, and oscillator injection locking by optical means have been demonstrated. This program, a study of the physics of semiconductor devices under optical illumination, has the specific goals of achieving optical injection locking of oscillators, demonstrating millimeter-wave modulation of injection lasers through mode locking, reducing AM and FM noise in solid-state oscillators by optical illumination, and developing new optical and microwave devices with optimal optical-microwave interaction characteristics. A feasibility study of optically injection locking a millimeter-wave IMPATT oscillator is described. The role of the IMPATT diode's nonlinearity in determining the overall efficiency of the optical injection locking process is discussed. Possible methods of obtaining suitable optical sources for subharmonic optical injection locking of millimeter-wave IMPATT oscillators are suggested. The experimental results of optical injection locking of X-band Si IMPATT oscillators are summarized. A Si IMPATT oscillator of frequency approximately 8.75 GHz was phase locked to a signal generator tuned to approximately 2.9 GHz.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1978
- Accession Number
- ADA061224
Entities
People
- Huan-wun Yen
- Luis Figueroa
Organizations
- HRL Laboratories