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Ultralow phase noise microwave generation with an Er:fiber-based optical frequency divider

Published

Author(s)

Franklyn J. Quinlan, Tara M. Fortier, Matthew S. Kirchner, Jennifer A. Taylor, Michael J. Thorpe, Nathan D. Lemke, Andrew D. Ludlow, Yanyi Jiang, Christopher W. Oates, Scott A. Diddams

Abstract

We present an optical frequency divider based on a 200 MHz repetition rate Er:fiber mode-locked laser that, when locked to a stable optical frequency reference, generates microwave signals with absolute phase noise that is equal to or better than cryogenic microwave oscillators. At 1 Hz offset from a 10 GHz carrier, the phase noise is below -100 dBc/Hz, limited by the optical reference. For offset frequencies > 10 kHz, the phase noise is shot noise limited at -145 dBc/Hz. An analysis of the contribution of the residual noise from the Er:fiber optical frequency divider is also presented.
Citation
Optics Letters
Volume
36
Issue
16

Keywords

fiber lasers, microwave photonics, optical frequency comb, phase noise

Citation

Quinlan, F. , Fortier, T. , Kirchner, M. , Taylor, J. , Thorpe, M. , Lemke, N. , Ludlow, A. , Jiang, Y. , Oates, C. and Diddams, S. (2011), Ultralow phase noise microwave generation with an Er:fiber-based optical frequency divider, Optics Letters (Accessed December 11, 2024)

Issues

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Created August 15, 2011, Updated February 19, 2017