Ultra-low phase noise all-optical microwave generation setup based on commercial devices

TL;DR

This paper introduces a simple, commercial-device-based setup for generating ultra-low phase noise microwave signals using all-optical methods, achieving performance comparable to specialized laboratory systems.

Contribution

The authors demonstrate a straightforward, cost-effective approach to produce ultra-low phase noise microwaves with commercial components, expanding accessibility beyond specialized research labs.

Findings

Achieved phase noise of -104 dBc/Hz at 1 Hz for 10 GHz signal

Matched the best laboratory results for microwave photonics

Enabled ultra-low phase noise microwave generation with commercial devices

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.