Analysis of phase noise of RF signals in fiber optic communication systems

Stability of phase is a very significant aspect in several applications, especially those that require the transmission of a reference signal. A fiber optic link is considered the best medium for transmitting reference signals, owing to its high transmission capacity and superior stability. However, as the microwave frequency of operation increases, the phase stability of fiber optic links becomes a crucial issue. Quantification and analysis of phase noise in analog fiber optic systems is the main objective of this work. Phase noise is measured for different experimental setups so that the additive effect of different components in the link can be examined. Moreover, the influence of wavelength selection and power on the noise is also analyzed