Abstract:
A dual-frequency optical source comprises: (a) first and second pump laser sources arranged to generate optical pump power at respective first and second pump laser frequencies vpump1 and vpump2; and (b) a fiber optical resonator characterized by a Brillouin shift frequency vB and a free spectral range that is substantially equal to an integer submultiple of the Brillouin shift frequency. Each one of the first and second pump laser sources is frequency-locked to a corresponding resonant optical mode of the fiber optical resonator. First and second optical output signals of the dual-frequency optical reference source at respective first and second output frequencies v1=vpump1−vB and v2=vpump2−vB comprise stimulated Brillouin laser output generated by simultaneous optical pumping of the fiber optical resonator by the first and second pump laser sources, respectively. An output difference frequency v2−v1 is greater than about 300 GHz.
Abstract:
An optical apparatus comprises a waveguide substrate and an optical reference cavity. The optical reference cavity comprises an optical waveguide formed on the waveguide substrate and arranged to form a closed loop greater than or about equal to 10 cm in length. The RMS resonance frequency fluctuation is less than or about equal to 100 Hz. The Q-factor can be greater than or about equal to 108. The optical waveguide can exhibit optical loss less than or about equal to 0.2 dB/m for propagation of an optical signal along the optical waveguide. The closed loop path can comprise two or more linked spirals greater than or about equal to 1 meter in length and can occupy an area on the waveguide substrate less than or about equal to 5 cm2.
Abstract:
A dual-comb optical-frequency comb generator includes a tunable comb-generating laser, a coarse-comb generator, a fine-comb generator, a second harmonic generator, a coarse-comb offset photodetector, a dual-comb offset photodetector, and a fine-comb photodetector. The coarse comb is self-referencing and coupled to the fine comb so as to enable absolute determination of the frequencies of the fine comb.
Abstract:
A microwave-frequency source at frequency fM comprises: a dual optical-frequency reference source, an electro-optic sideband generator, an optical bandpass filter, an optical detector, a reference oscillator, an electrical circuit, and a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). The sideband generator modulates dual optical reference signals at v2 and v1 to generate sideband signals at v1±n1fM and v2±n2fM. The bandpass filter transmits sideband signals at v1+N1fM and v2−N2fM. The optical detector generates a beat note at (v2−N2fM)−(v1+N1fM). The beat note and a reference oscillator signal are processed by the circuit to generate a loop-filtered error signal to input to the VCO. Output of the VCO at fM drives the sideband generator and forms the microwave-frequency output signal. The resultant frequency division results in reduced phase noise on the microwave-frequency signal.
Abstract:
Microwave-frequency signal generation by generating multiple sideband optical signals separated by phase-modulation frequency fM, generating beat signals between one or two sidebands and one or two optical reference signals, generating a loop-filtered error signal by comparing an electrical reference signal to one of the beat signals or their difference, and controlling with the error signal in a phase-locked loop arrangement a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) that drives the sideband generation at the frequency fM. A portion of the VCO output is the generated microwave-frequency signal.
Abstract:
A microwave-frequency source at frequency fM comprises: a dual optical-frequency reference source, an electro-optic sideband generator, an optical bandpass filter, an optical detector, a reference oscillator, an electrical circuit, and a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). The sideband generator modulates dual optical reference signals at v2 and v1 to generate sideband signals at v1±n1fM and v2±n2fM. The bandpass filter transmits sideband signals at v1+N1fM and v2−N2fM. The optical detector generates a beat note at (v2−N2fM)−(v1+N1fM). The beat note and a reference oscillator signal are processed by the circuit to generate a loop-filtered error signal to input to the VCO. Output of the VCO at fM drives the sideband generator and forms the microwave-frequency output signal. The resultant frequency division results in reduced phase noise on the microwave-frequency signal.