Wide band phase modulators used with high power laser carriers convert high-frequency RF signals to phase-modulated optical signals. Higher laser optical power to the modulator produces larger RF signal sidebands. A carrier attenuation filter passes the attenuated carrier and non-attenuated RF modulation sidebands. Carrier attenuation leaves the larger RF signal sidebands. A demodulation filter used with a photodetector or a balanced photodetector pair converts the phase-modulated optical signal back to an electrical signal. Carrier-only attenuation allows high power laser use, avoids photodetector damage or saturation, and provides increased RF link gain, low noise figure (NF) and high spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR). Filtered-out carrier power fed back to the laser source increases to overall system efficiency. An additional optical delay filter with dual outputs used with a polarization multiplexer or a coherent combiner coupler combines signal power to a single photodetector to further increase electro-optic signal conversion efficiency.