Ultra-low phase noise all-optical microwave generation setup based on commercial devices
arXiv:1503.06038 · doi:10.1364/AO.54.003682
Abstract
In this paper, we present a very simple design based on commercial devices for the all-optical generation of ultra-low phase noise microwave signals. A commercial, fibered femtosecond laser is locked to a laser that is stabilized to a commercial ULE Fabry-Perot cavity. The 10 GHz microwave signal extracted from the femtosecond laser output exhibits a single sideband phase noise $\mathcal{L}(f)=-104 \ \mathrm{dBc}/\mathrm{Hz}$ at 1 Hz Fourier frequency, at the level of the best value obtained with such "microwave photonics" laboratory experiments \cite{Fortier2011}. Close-to-the-carrier ultra-low phase noise microwave signals will now be available in laboratories outside the frequency metrology field, opening up new possibilities in various domains.
8 pages, 3 figures. To be published in Applied Optics, early posting version available at http://www.opticsinfobase.org/ao/upcoming_pdf.cfm?id=231146