Topological Quenching of Noise in a Free-Running Moebius Microcomb

TL;DR

This paper introduces a topological M"obius soliton molecule in microcombs that intrinsically suppresses phase noise in a fully free-running setup, eliminating the need for external control and enhancing spectral purity for advanced photonic applications.

Contribution

The work demonstrates a novel topological M"obius geometry in microcombs that achieves intrinsic low-noise operation without external referencing, advancing free-running microcomb technology.

Findings

Over 15 dB phase-noise suppression across 10 Hz-10 kHz

Achieved -63 dBc/Hz phase noise at 1 kHz

Demonstrated long-term drift-invariant operation

Abstract

Microcombs require ultralow-noise repetition rates to enable next-generation applications in metrology, high-speed communications, microwave photonics, and sensing, where spectral purity is a central performance metric. Best-performing sources operate actively locked at "quiet points" in parameter space, fixed by device and material properties. Creating broad, low-noise operating regions with relaxed constraints-especially in simplified free-running architectures that avoid electronics-heavy control-remains an open challenge. Here, we demonstrate a symmetry-protected topological M\"obius soliton molecule that enables intrinsically low phase noise in a fully free-running microcomb, operating without any external referencing or control. Using a microresonator-filtered laser, we implement a M\"obius geometry via interleaved microcavity modes. Upon the formation of a topological M\"obius soliton molecule, the free-running laser exhibits over 15 dB of phase-noise suppression across 10 Hz-10 kHz at a 100 GHz repetition rate, yielding -63 dBc/Hz phase noise at 1 kHz and an Allan deviation of 4x10^-10 at 10 s average time-without any external control. We show that the M\"obius structure brings dynamic robustness to the comb, and we demonstrate a symmetry-protected topological regime that enables long-term drift-invariant operation. Our results establish a route to intrinsically noise-quenched microcombs operating in a fully free-running configuration, governed by internal physical principles and suitable for field-deployable, low-noise photonic systems.