Photoactivated microwave oscillator
Abstract
Predicted results and measured data of an original optically switched oscillator realised on GaAs MMIC technology are presented. The photoconductive effect within the semiconductor substrate is exploited to induce, by application of a suitable optical power on a microwave photoconductive switch, the oscillating behaviour of an active device at a frequency of 4.9 GHz. Modulation-intensity effect of an optical signal on free-running frequency and an output power are also analysed. This oscillator could be easily integrated within communication systems to achieve high data rate amplitude and phase modulation of microwave carriers.