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Radiofrequency signal-generation system with over seven octaves of continuous tuning

Abstract

Spectrum congestion and demand for higher data rates are driving a push towards higher carrier frequencies in wireless communications, necessitating sources of exceptionally pure, widely tunable radiofrequency carrier signals1,2. There is increasing interest in the exploration of ultrawide-bandwidth optoelectronic systems with a view to meeting this need3. Here, we present an optoelectronic system based on sideband-injection-locked lasers for generating low-noise carriers, which is tunable over a frequency span of more than seven octaves. A nonlinear electronic element generates a broad comb of radiofrequency harmonics from a low-frequency reference oscillator, and a broadband optical modulator converts them into optical sidebands for injection seeding. Utilizing a reference tuned from 0.5 to 4 GHz, continuously tunable signals from 0.5 to 110 GHz are reported, which preserve the timing jitter of the reference. By using high-performance phase modulators4 and photodetectors5, we believe that this system could be extended to operation at >300 GHz, and could be realized in a compact, integrated package6,7.

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Figure 1: Radiofrequency signal generation system based on injection-locked lasers and phase modulation.
Figure 2: Signal spectra from the experimental demonstration of the widely tunable photonic radiofrequency signal generation system.
Figure 3: Comparison of the phase noise of the generated signals and reference.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the support of R. Nelson from the US Air Force Research Laboratory (grant no. FA8650-09-D-5037) and G. Pomrenke from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (grants nos FA9550-10-1-0039 and FA9550-10-1-0363), as well as other US Government agencies.

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The ideas that led to the work presented here were initially conceived by D.W.P., G.J.S. and J.A.M., then further developed and refined with essential contributions from C.A.S. and S.S. G.J.S. performed the experimental setup, data collection and analysis, with assistance from J.A.M., S.S. and C.A.S. The paper was written by G.J.S.

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Correspondence to Garrett J. Schneider.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Schneider, G., Murakowski, J., Schuetz, C. et al. Radiofrequency signal-generation system with over seven octaves of continuous tuning. Nature Photon 7, 118–122 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2012.339

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