Phase-Noise Characterization in Stable Optical Frequency Transfer over Free Space and Fiber Link Testbeds

Abstract

Time and frequency metrology depends on stable oscillators in both radio-frequency and optical domains. With the increased complexity of the highly precise oscillators also came the demand for delivering the oscillators’ harmonic signals between delocalized sites for comparison, aggregation, or other purposes. Besides the traditional optical fiber networks, free-space optical links present an alternative tool for disseminating stable sources’ output. We present a pilot experiment of phase-coherent optical frequency transfer using a free-space optical link testbed. The experiment performed on a 30 m long link demonstrates the phase-noise parameters in a free-space optical channel under atmospheric turbulence conditions, and it studies the impact of active MEMS mirror stabilization of the received optical wave positioning on the resulting transfer’s performance. Our results indicate that a well-configured MEMS mirror beam stabilization significantly enhances fractional frequency stability, achieving the−14th-order level for integration times over 30 s.