Phase noise of an electro-optic terahertz comb

Area of Science:

• Photonics
• Terahertz Science
• Microwave Engineering

Background:

• Photonic frequency generation offers broad tunability compared to electronic methods.
• Achieving wide continuous tuning ranges with narrow linewidths and low phase noise in the GHz to THz domain remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel electro-optical comb system for generating millimeter wave and terahertz frequencies.
• To demonstrate Hz-level 3-dB linewidths and low phase noise across a wide frequency range.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an electro-optical comb driving a photomixer.
• Incorporated an electro-optical phase modulator for side-band generation.
• Characterized optical subsystem phase noise up to 40 GHz.

Main Results:

• Achieved Hz-level 3-dB linewidths for frequencies spanning microwaves to terahertz.
• Demonstrated potential for extending frequency generation capabilities.
• Provided insights into phase noise characteristics at higher THz frequencies.

Conclusions:

• The presented electro-optical comb system offers a viable solution for high-performance frequency generation.
• The system shows promise as an extension module for existing photonic setups.
• The approach enables precise control over phase noise in the THz domain.