Adjustable testing setup for a single-loop optoelectronic oscillator with an electrical bandpass filter

Abstract

In this paper we present a novel method to measure the free spectral range FSR and side-mode suppression ratio SMSR of an optoelectronic oscillator OEO by adjusting the optical fiber length using an optical path selector and signal source analyzer. We have designed a setup for a single-loop OEO operating around 5 GHz and 10 GHz that features electrical bandpass filters for side-mode suppression. The proposed approach makes it possible to evaluate the FSR and SMSR of OEOs with different optical fiber paths without requiring the changing of fiber spools or optical connectors. This approach could be useful for testbeds that investigate the implementation of an OEO in a 5G radio access network.