We report on the fabrication of a monolithically integrated semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) and a reflective electro-absorption transceiver (EAT) for 40-60 GHz radio-over-fiber applications. The EAT can either function as a transmitter (reflective modulator) or as a receiver (photodetector) depending on operation mode. The SOA and the EAT sections are based on different InGaAsP multiple quantum-well active layers connected by a butt joint. Benzocyclobutene is used to reduce the capacitance beside the ridge mesa. Devices are designed to have a peaked response at the operating frequency through the design of microwave waveguides on top of the devices. The packaged device exhibits at 0.1 mW optical input power an amplified DC responsivity of 18.5 mA mW −1 and a modulation efficiency of 0.67 mW V −1 . The estimated radio frequency loss at 40 GHz of an optical link consisting of two SOA-EAT devices was 23 dB using an unmodulated optical input carrier to the transmitter of 0.94 mW.

Three types of electroabsorption modulators (EAMs) based on III-V semiconductor multiple quantum wells (MQW) are presented in this work. One is a novel monolithic integration traveling-wave EAM for an analog optical transmitter/transceiver to achieve integrated photonic mm-wave functions for broadband connectivity. Another one is composed of an integrated EAM 1D array in a photonic beam-former as a Ku-band phased array antenna for seamless aeronautical networking through integration of data links, radios, and antennas. The third one addresses the use of MQW EAMs in free space optical links through biological tissue for transcutaneous communication.