Experimental Study of a System for Compensating the Temperature-Induced Gain Fluctuations of the Radio-over-Fiber links used in the Square Kilometre Array

The Square Kilometer Array-low (SKA-low) system requirements for high sensitivity and dynamic range are met in large part by the signal reception chain. The choice of architecture and receiver system design for SKA-low is influenced by the trade-off between gain, linearity, and low power consumption as well as cost, high reliability, robustness under extreme environments, and finally, the distance between the antennas and the acquisition systems. RFover-fiber systems have been chosen as the technology for the SKA-low RF signal conveyance. Together with explanations of the creation of the receiver prototypes, the selection's justifications are presented. At the chosen SKA-low site in Western Australia, the prototypes were set up and put on demonstrator arrays. The thermal characterization of the receiver system has received particular focus, especially when both the optical medium and the transmitting component are subject to fluctuations in the ambient outside temperature. For this reason, particular emphasis has been placed on the analysis of optical receivers, both those currently used in AAVS2 and those that will be used for in the future for AAVS3. Finally, several simulations were conducted using software developed to describe the behavior of signals received following propagation through RF-over-fiber systems under certain environmental conditions.