Highly stable microwave carrier generation using a dual-frequency distributed feedback laser

Abstract

Photonic generation of microwave carriers by using a dual-frequency distributed feedback waveguide laser in ytterbium-doped aluminum oxide is demonstrated. A highperformance optical frequency locked loop is implemented to stabilize the microwave carrier. This approach results in a microwave frequency at ~14 GHz with a phase noise of -75 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset from the center frequency. The frequency stability of the photonic microwave carrier has an Allan deviation of better than 1×10 -10 for an averaging time of 1000 s with a loop settling time of 15 μs.