Spiral resonator referenced low noise microwave generation via integrated optical frequency division
Abstract
A low noise oscillator is a crucial component in determining system performance in modern communication, microwave spectroscopy, microwave-based sensing (including radar and remote sensing), and metrology systems. In recent years, ultra-low phase noise photonic microwave oscillators based on optical frequency division have become a paradigm shift for the generation of high performance microwave signals. In this work, we report on-chip low phase noise photonic microwave generation based on spiral resonator referenced lasers and an integrated electro-optical frequency comb. Dual lasers are co-locked to an ultra-high-Q silicon nitride spiral resonator and their relative phase noise is measured below the cavity thermal noise limit, resulting in record low on-chip optical phase noise. A broadband integrated electro-optic frequency comb is utilized to divide down the relative phase noise of the spiral resonator referenced lasers to the microwave domain, resulting in record-low phase noise for chip-based oscillators (−69 dBc/Hz at 10 Hz offset, and −144 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz offset for a 10 GHz carrier scaled from 37.3 GHz output). The exceptional phase noise performance, planar chip design, high technology readiness level, and foundry-ready processing of the current work represent a major advance of integrated photonic microwave oscillators.
Copyright and License
© 2025 Chinese Laser Press.
Acknowledgement
This work was supported by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) under contract No. HR001122C0019. The authors thank Dr. Zhiquan Yuan from NIST for helpful discussions on the TRN noise modeling.
Funding
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (HR001122C0019).
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The views, opinions and/or findings expressed are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the official views or policies of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government. Distribution Statement “A” (Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited).
Additional details
- Alternative title
- Spiral resonator referenced on-chip low noise microwave generation
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
- HR001122C0019
- Accepted
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2025-04-29
- Available
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2025-04-30Posted online
- Caltech groups
- Division of Engineering and Applied Science (EAS), Kavli Nanoscience Institute
- Publication Status
- Published