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research article

Ultralow-noise photonic microwave synthesis using a soliton microcomb-based transfer oscillator

Lucas, Erwan  
•
Brochard, Pierre
•
Bouchand, Romain  
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January 17, 2020
Nature Communications

The synthesis of ultralow-noise microwaves is of both scientific and technological relevance for timing, metrology, communications and radio-astronomy. Today, the lowest reported phase noise signals are obtained via optical frequency-division using mode-locked laser frequency combs. Nonetheless, this technique ideally requires high repetition rates and tight comb stabilisation. Here, a microresonator-based Kerr frequency comb (soliton microcomb) with a 14 GHz repetition rate is generated with an ultra-stable pump laser and used to derive an ultralow-noise microwave reference signal, with an absolute phase noise level below -60 dBc/Hz at 1 Hz offset frequency and -135 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz. This is achieved using a transfer oscillator approach, where the free-running microcomb noise (which is carefully studied and minimised) is cancelled via a combination of electronic division and mixing. Although this proof-of-principle uses an auxiliary comb for detecting the microcomb's offset frequency, we highlight the prospects of this method with future self-referenced integrated microcombs and electro-optic combs, that would allow for ultralow-noise microwave and sub-terahertz signal generators.

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Type
research article
DOI
10.1038/s41467-019-14059-4
Web of Science ID

WOS:000514638400014

Author(s)
Lucas, Erwan  
Brochard, Pierre
Bouchand, Romain  
Schilt, Stephane
Suedmeyer, Thomas
Kippenberg, Tobias J.  
Date Issued

2020-01-17

Publisher

Nature Publishing Group

Published in
Nature Communications
Volume

11

Issue

1

Start page

374

Subjects

Multidisciplinary Sciences

•

Science & Technology - Other Topics

•

mode-locked lasers

•

frequency comb

•

shot-noise

•

temporal solitons

•

phase-control

•

generation

•

photodetection

•

stabilization

•

locking

•

light

Editorial or Peer reviewed

REVIEWED

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March 11, 2020
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/167173
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