Optically envelope detected QAM and QPSK RF modulated signals in hybrid wireless-fiber systems

We experimentally demonstrate optical envelope detection of 40 Mbaud 16-QAM and QPSK RF modulated signals. The proposed system employs an electro-absorption modulator performing the function of an optical halfwave rectifier. In this experiment, the QAM and QPSK signals are frequency down converted from a 1.6 GHz carrier frequency to an IF at 500 MHz, requiring no high frequency local oscillator and mixer at the remote base station. This result proves the feasibility of optical envelope detection for complex modulation formats of RF signals for hybrid wireless-fiber transmission links.