10 GHz Generation with Ultra-Low Phase Noise via the Transfer Oscillator Technique

Published

February 8, 2022

Author(s)

Nicholas Nardelli, Tara Fortier, Marco Pomponio, Esther Baumann, Craig Nelson, Thomas Schibli, Archita Hati

Abstract

We generate 10 GHz microwave signals using the transfer oscillator technique, which employs digital and RF analog techniques to coherently remove the additive noise from an optical frequency comb. This method permits transfer of the frequency stability and phase noise of two high-Finesse optical references at 1157 nm and 1070 nm to two independent 10 GHz signals using a single frequency comb. Using this technique, we demonstrate absolute phase noise below -106 dBc/Hz at 1-Hz from carrier, and a 1-second fractional frequency instability below $10^-15}$. Additionally, we show that the noise contribution of the frequency comb to the 10 GHz transfer oscillator signals is negligible for comb linewidths as large as 2 MHz.

Citation

APL Photonics

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

Er/Yb:glass laser, optical cavity, optical comparisons, optical frequency combs, precision metrology, ultrafast optics, low noise microwave generation, optical atomic clock, optical frequency division, transfer oscillator technique

Citation

Nardelli, N. , Fortier, T. , Pomponio, M. , Baumann, E. , Nelson, C. , Schibli, T. and Hati, A. (2022), 10 GHz Generation with Ultra-Low Phase Noise via the Transfer Oscillator Technique, APL Photonics, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=933231 (Accessed May 21, 2024)