Patent ID: 7877020

Claim:
A method for link linearization in an RF-photonic link having an RF input and an RF output, the method comprising linearizing phase detection in a photonic receiver using negative feedback to track a phase of an RF input modulated light signal, the method comprising: a) splitting off a portion of the light signal prior to RF input modulation of the light signal; b) modulating the portion with an electro-optic modulator in the receiver to generate in the receiver a second lightwave having a phase modulation with a substantially same phase modulation as the RF input modulated light signal in a transmitter without supplying the RF input to the receiver; and c) comparing the phase modulations of the RF input modulated signal and the second lightwave, and requiring a difference between the phase modulation of the RF input modulated signal and the second lightwave to asymptotically approach zero so as to substantially replicate the RF input signal in the transmitter at the RF output of the receiver.