Abstract

It has been predicted that a semiconductor laser can be operated simultaneously as both a local oscillator (LO) and an optical mixer by extracting microwave heterodyne signal from the bias current.¹ Injection current modulation has recently been demonstrated in a diode laser in response to optical probe.² Here we report the first use of this effect to detect modulated optical signal. We present measurements of the sensitivity of self-oscillating mixer receiver for ASK modulated signals at 400 Mbit/s. This technique offers many of the advantages of conventional heterodyne detection without the need for an optical coupler or photodiode.

© 1989 Optical Society of America