Photoparametric amplifiers for subcarrier-multiplexed communication systems

Photoparametric amplification is achieved by the occurrence of photo-detection, preamplification and possible frequency conversion within a single device, i.e. the photodiode, and is achieved by pumping the diode at microwave frequencies. Such a device can significantly simplify the front-end architecture of an optical receiver in optical distribution networks and in other applications such as the receiver front end in an optical wireless system or the optical interface within a set-top box in a fibre-to-the-home configuration. The paper presents the theory, and investigates the performance, of various modes of operation. Circuit simulations and practical results are compared and discussed, with particular attention to the sub-carrier multiplexed system application. The required device characteristics that influence the diode structure are determined using nonlinear simulation techniques. Finally, prototype devices based on III-V implementation are discussed, and a range of experimental results, which support the computationally obtained conclusions, are presented.