A 60-Gbps Polymer Microwave Fiber Communication Link at Y-band

A high data rate polymer microwave fiber (PMF) communication link is described in the Y-band (170-260 GHz). The transmitter and receiver are designed in a 90-nm silicon germanium (SiGe) BiCMOS process. The link includes a waveguide to PMF transition and the PMF has a solid circular cross-section. Link tests were done over a one meter long fiber using a carrier of 230 GHz. Measurements show that it supports 50 Gbps using QPSK modulation with SNR=11.5dB and EVM=26.5%. Using QAM-16 modualation 60 Gbps was reached with SNR=15.7dB and EVM=12.2%.