Dispersive-wave-agile optical frequency division

Area of Science:

• Physics
• Optical Engineering
• Signal Processing

Background:

• Optical cavities and atomic transitions offer exceptional frequency stability.
• Optical frequency division leverages this stability for electronic frequency scales.
• Two-point optical frequency division (2P-OFD) simplifies system architecture and reduces power needs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a 2P-OFD microwave signal source with record-low phase noise.
• To utilize a microcomb and a high-Q optical cavity for enhanced performance.
• To advance integrable microcomb-based signal sources.

Main Methods:

• Employed a microcomb to define spectral endpoints for 2P-OFD.
• Utilized a frequency-agile single-mode dispersive wave from a microcomb soliton.
• Integrated a compact, all-solid-state optical cavity with a record Q factor.

Main Results:

• Achieved a 2P-OFD microwave signal source with record-low phase noise.
• Demonstrated a simplified system architecture without self-referencing the frequency comb.
• Showcased a hybridly packaged system with excellent long-term stability.

Conclusions:

• The developed 2P-OFD system significantly reduces phase noise in microwave signal generation.
• Microcomb-based 2P-OFD offers a pathway to high-performance, compact signal sources.
• This technology bridges the performance gap between large microwave sources and integrable systems.