30-GHz millimeter-wave carrier generation with single sideband modulation based on stimulated Brillouin scattering

A new technique to generate a millimeter (mm)-wave carrier of 32.57 GHz (f(LO) = 10.85 GHz) with single sideband modulation (SSB) for radio-over-fiber (RoF) systems is experimentally demonstrated by using stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS). The SSB is realized by directly amplifying the +3rd sideband of the modulated optical carrier in the process of SBS. The pump wave is provided through a double Brillouin scattering frequency shifting configuration. The use of the same laser source to generate the pump wave ensures the stability of the mm-wave generation system since the relative frequency shift between them can be eliminated. In addition, the mm-wave carrier obtains an RF power gain of 21 dB with the SBS amplification and a 3-dB bandwidth of 10 kHz.