Spiral resonator referenced on-chip low noise microwave generation

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a planar chip-based photonic microwave oscillator with record-low phase noise, achieved through a silicon nitride spiral resonator and broadband electro-optic comb, advancing integrated microwave photonics.

Contribution

It introduces a novel on-chip low phase noise microwave generator using a spiral resonator and electro-optic comb, with high technology readiness and record performance.

Findings

Record-low phase noise from 10 Hz to 10 kHz offsets.

Broadband electro-optic comb up to 3.43 THz bandwidth.

Successful integration on a planar chip with foundry-ready processing.

Abstract

In recent years, miniaturization and integration of photonic microwave oscillators by optical frequency division approach have witnessed rapid progress. In this work, we report on-chip low phase noise photonic microwave generation based on a planar chip design. Dual lasers are co-locked to a silicon nitride spiral resonator and their relative phase noise is measured below the cavity thermal noise limit, resulting in record low on-chip relative optical phase noise. A broadband integrated electro-optic comb up to 3.43 THz (27 nm) bandwidth is utilized to divide down the relative phase noise of the spiral resonator referenced lasers to the microwave domain. All-around record-low phase noise is achieved for planar chip-based photonic microwave oscillators from 10 Hz to 10 kHz offsets. The planar chip design, high technology-readiness level, foundry-ready processing, combined with the exceptional phase noise performance for our work represent a major advance of integrated photonic microwave oscillators.