Investigation of Analog Photonic Link Technology for Timing and Metrological Applications

Single-sideband phase noise measurements have been conducted in support of precision timing concepts. The various items studied include optical and electrical discrete components, short- and long-length fiber-optic signal transmission with and without optical amplification, and freespace wireless radio-frequency transmission with and without optical feeds. A design and associated single-sideband phase noise performance of a true-time-delay modulator based on acousto-optic beam deflection is also presented.