A phase tracking multichannel apparatus includes a plurality of optical transmitters,
an optical multiplexer, a common optical link, and a user electronics. RF signals
having different phases are received and are output on separate RF channels, each
of which is coupled to an optical transmitter. RF-modulated optical output signals
are then output to the optical multiplexer to produce a multiplexed output signal.
The multiplexed signal is applied to a common optical link that at its output substantially
maintains the phase separation of RF modulation components on optical carriers
as received at its input. The optical output of the common optical link is then
applied to an optical signal receiving system, such as an optical demultiplexer
and a plurality of photodetectors. By multiplexing all of the optical signals onto
the common optical fiber, all signals transmit the same path and, therefore, have
the same time and phase delay. The phase tracking is preserved because all of the
signals experience the same optical or expansive properties of the common optical
fiber. A typical use would be to transmit multiple RF signals from an antenna array
to a remote RF phase measuring receiver, such as a RF direction finding system.