Wide-band electrooptic intensity modulator frequency response measurement using an optical heterodyne down-conversion technique

This paper describes a novel system for measuring the frequency response of electrooptic intensity modulators at millimeter-wave frequencies. The system measures vertical bar S(21)vertical bar in decibels electrical. In it, the electrical input signal to the modulator is generated, by heterodyning two tunable lasers. The output of the modulator is then down-converted to a microwave frequency at which the output is easily measured. Measurements have been made up to 78 GHz using a 55-GHz photodiode as the mixer for the two lasers. In addition, our system tracks any frequency variations in the outputs of the lasers. Our system can also measure the linear response of the modulator if it is operated in nonlinear regions since it can reject higher order harmonies, due to nonlinearities, generated in the modulator.