Optoelectronic oscillator using visible LEDs and plastic optical fibers

This paper describes an optoelectronic oscillator (OEO) capable of accepting CW light as input and providing radio-frequency (RF) carriers as output. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to describe an easy-toassemble and low-cost OEO that uses visible LED sources with a standard 1 mm diameter plastic optical fiber as part of the oscillation ring. The gain is solely provided by a transimpedance pre-amplifier integrated with a photodetector. Self-oscillations occurred. Fundamental frequencies in the 7.7-26.5 MHz range were generated, since the length of the fiber and the bias current feeding the LED are both correctly tuned. A comprehensive approach is used to explain the operation of the OEO. The proposed OEO may be didactically useful for use in research or teaching laboratories by untrained people. (c) 2024 Optica Publishing Group. All rights, including for text and data mining (TDM), Artificial Intelligence (AI) training, and similar technologies, are reserved.