Fiber-Optic Technology for Antenna Remoting

Edward Ackerman and Charles Cox

Workshop on Solar Radiophysics with the FASR

Green Bank, West Virginia

May 24, 2002

Outline

Introduction to fiber-optic technology

Direction of fiber-optic technology development

1958-2001 observations:

Significant performance improvement

Limited cost reduction

2002-2010 predictions:

Limited performance improvement

Significant cost reduction implications for FASR

Summary

Summary

Recent fiber-optic link component cost reductions have important implications for FASR:

Cost of 10 Gb/s (100 kHz - ~ 10 GHz) link for has decreased by a factor of 3:

$ 3,750 in November 2000 (separate CW laser, LiNbO₃ MZ modulator)

$ 2,030 in May 2002 (integrated CW laser and EA modulator)

$ 1,490 anticipated in 2003 or later (directly modulated VCSEL)

Cost reductions are due to new types of devices, not merely increased volume of production

Cost reductions may also be partly due to recent economic downturn

Performance of the lowest-cost approaches may be an issue at first: Photonic Systems is investigating

Acknowledgments and Contact Info

Photonic Systems’ fiber-optic link performance and cost studies for FASR are currently funded by a subcontract from NJIT.

Photonic Systems, Inc.

e-mail: eackerman@photonicsinc.com

            ccox@photonicsinc.com

regular mail: Photonic Systems, Inc.
    103 Terrace Hall Ave.                                                         Suite A                                                                           Burlington, MA 01803

Phone: 781 272-1819

Fax:      781 272-4654


	Edward Ackerman and Charles Cox

	Workshop on Solar Radiophysics with the FASR
	Green Bank, West Virginia
	May 24, 2002


Introduction to fiber-optic technology
Direction of fiber-optic technology development
	1958-2001 observations:
		Significant performance improvement
		Limited cost reduction
	2002-2010 predictions:
		Limited performance improvement
		Significant cost reduction implications for FASR
Summary


Recent fiber-optic link component cost reductions have important implications for FASR:
	Cost of 10 Gb/s (100 kHz - ~ 10 GHz) link for has decreased by a factor of 3:
		$ 3,750 in November 2000 (separate CW laser, LiNbO₃ MZ modulator)
		$ 2,030 in May 2002 (integrated CW laser and EA modulator)
		$ 1,490 anticipated in 2003 or later (directly modulated VCSEL)
	Cost reductions are due to new types of devices, not merely increased volume of production
	Cost reductions may also be partly due to recent economic downturn
Performance of the lowest-cost approaches may be an issue at first: Photonic Systems is investigating


	Photonic Systems’ fiber-optic link performance and cost studies for FASR are currently funded by a subcontract from NJIT.

	Photonic Systems, Inc.
		e-mail: eackerman@photonicsinc.com
		ccox@photonicsinc.com

		regular mail: Photonic Systems, Inc. 103 Terrace Hall Ave. Suite A Burlington, MA 01803

		Phone: 781 272-1819
		Fax: 781 272-4654