Performance Comparison of Single- and Two-Section RSOAs in Radio-Over-Fiber Links

A performance comparison of single- and two-section reflective semiconductor optical amplifiers (RSOAs), used as remote modulators for the transport of IEEE 802.11n type signals at 0.3 GHz is reported. The two-section RSOA yields higher link gain and lower output noise than the single-section RSOA while retaining high output power. It provides a wide operational dynamic range and high tolerable path loss.