Photonic Techniques for Frequency & Timing

A Tutorial
1998 IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium
May 26, 1998

X. Steve Yao
Jet Propulsion Laboratory California Institute of Technology
Tel: 818-393-9031 Fax: 818-393-6773 Email: xsyao@horology.jpl.nasa.gov

Other contributors: Lute Maleki, George Lutes, Malcolm Calhoun, William Shieh

Presented at the 2000 IEEE Int'l Frequency Control Symposium Tutorials June 6, 2000, Kansas City, Missouri, USA

Contents
1. Basics of Optical Fiber i. History ii. Advantages iii. Fiber vs. coax (data)
a. b. c. d. Bandwidth vs. cable length Attenuation vs. frequency Group delay vs. temperature Temperature stability
1-19 1 2 3-8

3
4-5 6-7 8 9-13 14-19 20 21-31 21-23 24-26 27-28 29 30 31

iv. How fiber works v. Discussion of fiber dispersion 2. Basic Photonic Links for RF applications 3. Characteristics of Fiber Optic Components i. Fiber ii. Choices of operation wavelengths iii. Lasers iv. Photodetectors v. Modulators vi. Other commercially available fiber optic devices

Contents
4. Noise sources in photonic systems i. White noise: Thermal, shot, and RIN
ii. 1/f RIN and relaxation oscillation RIN iii. Interferometric noise iv. Double Rayleigh scattering & Brillouin scattering v. Fiber thermal fluctuation vi. Fiber dispersion mediated noise 5. Fiber Optic Frequency Standard Distribution 6. Photonic Technology for signal mixing & multiplication 7. Photonic Techniques for generating RF signals
32-38 33 34 35-36 37 38 38 39-43 44-54 55-69

Basics of Optical Fiber

History
1910: Concept conceived by Hondros & Debye 1915: Existence of a dielectrically guided wave demonstrated by Zahn, Ruter & Schriever 1959: Waveguide modes in optical fiber observed by Snitzer & Hicks. 1965: Fibers with a loss less than 20-dB/km for fiber optic communications proposed by Kao. 1970: Practical fiber with 20 dB/km loss announced by Kapron, Keck, & Maurer. 1972: 4 dB/km loss fiber developed by Corning. Today: Fiber has a loss of 0.2 dB/km @ 1550 nm
1 Steve Yao, JPL

Advantages of Optical Fiber

Wide Bandwidth ==> High frequency
20 MHz-km (multimode) to > 100 GHz-km (single mode) With wavelength division multiplexing, > 1Tb/s over 600 km demonstrated.

Low Loss ==> High Q delay line for low phase noise
~0.5 dB/km @ 1300 nm, 0.2 dB/km @ 1550 nm

Low thermal-induced delay change ==> High stability

Single mode fiber: 7 ppm/C, Special fiber: < 0.1 ppm/C

No RFI or EMI problems ==> Immune to spurious noise sources Electrical isolation between ends No ground loops Small, lightweight, & corrosion resistant Material is plentiful & inexpensive Cost/capacity ratio is extremely low
2 Steve Yao, JPL

How Fiber Works

Snell Law
Reflection
Mirror Po Po- Loss
Po
Critical angle

Total Internal Reflection

n1 (Low index of refraction) Po n2 (High index of refraction) No Loss!!

All mirrored surfaces have loss!!

* n = c/v c = the speed of light in a vacuum (3 x 108 m/s) v = the speed of light in the material (~ 2 x 108 m/s in glass) * The index of refraction of glass can be changed by adding impurities (doping)
9 Steve Yao, JPL

Basic Photonic links for RF applications

Directly modulated Link
RF signal directly drives the laser
RF in
Laser

Externally modulated link

RF signal drives an E/O modulator external to the laser
RF in
Laser EOM

Fiber

RF out
Detector

Fiber

RF out
Detector

E/O converter

O/E converter

E/O converter
1.0

O/E converter

Optical Power

/m

A)

Transmission
Input current

mW

0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 0 1 2 3 4 5

Sl

op

e(

ITH

Applied voltage (V)

Lower dynamic range most CATV systems

20

High dynamic range High performance systems

Steve Yao, JPL

Characteristics of Fiber Optic Components

Optical Fiber Mutimode fiber
High dispersion, low bandwidth, high modal beating noise. Not recommended for frequency & timing.

Standard single mode fiber

low cost: ~$0.15/m zero dispersion @ 1310 nm thermal-induced delay change: ~ 7 ppm/C core/cladding sizes: 9/125 um, numerical aperture: 0.13 low attenuation: 0.5 dB/km @ 1310 nm, 0.2 dB/km @ 1550 nm polarization fluctuates due to mechanical disturbances

Thermally compensated fiber

Extremely low thermal-induced delay change: 0.1 ppm/C broad range, 0 ppm/C @ a specific temperature high cost
21 Steve Yao, JPL

-- continue Characteristics of Fiber Optic Components Polarization Maintaining (PM) Fiber

support two polarization modes No polarization fluctuation Expensive: ~ $20.00/m difficult to connect: fiber axis alignment required higher loss: < 2 dB/km @ 1310 nm & 1550 nm Slightly smaller core size & larger NA than standard fiber support only one polarization mode ==> fiber polarizer most expensive ~ $90.00/m higher loss: <2 dB/km @ 1310 nm, <7 dB/km @ 1550 nm higher bending loss

Polarizing (PZ) Fiber

22

Steve Yao, JPL

-- continue Characteristics of Fiber Optic Components Dispersion-shifted fiber (DSF)

Zero dispersion shifted to 1550 nm, where loss is the lowest mode-field/cladding sizes: 8.1/125 um, NA = 0.17 effective area: 50 um2

Non-zero dispersion-shifted fiber (NZ-DSF)

Minimum but non-zero dispersion at 1550nm reducing fiber nonlinear effects mode-field/cladding sizes: 8.4/125 um, NA = 0.16 effective area: 55 um2 Minimum but non-zero dispersion at 1550nm mode-field/cladding: 9/125 um, larger effective area: 72 um 2 further reducing fiber nonlinear effects
23 Steve Yao, JPL

Large core non-zero-dispersion-shifted fiber

Choices of operating wavelengths 1310 nm range

most analog links & past installed digital links low cost standard fiber off-the-shelf optical amplifier available low noise diode-pumped YAG laser off-the-shelf high speed modulators & detectors off-the-shelf high speed semiconductor laser off-the-shelf high power semiconductor lasers off-the-shelf other fiber optic components off-the-shelf low dispersion ==> low PM to AM noise conversion low loss
24 Steve Yao, JPL

Choices of operating wavelengths

1550 nm range
most present & future digital links, WDM systems lowest attenuation Er+ doped fiber amplifiers (EDFA) off-the-shelf low cost standard fiber off-the-shelf dispersion shifted fibers (DSF) off-the-shelf high speed modulators & detectors off-the-shelf high speed semiconductor laser off-the-shelf high power semiconductor lasers off-the-shelf other fiber optic components off-the-shelf low dispersion with DSF ==> low PM to AM noise conversion most industrial support in the future
25 Steve Yao, JPL

Choices of operating wavelengths

Other wavelengths --1060, 820, 780, & 630 nm

high fiber attenuation high cost optical fiber high cost modulator high cost lasers & detectors high speed semiconductor laser not off-the-shelf high power semiconductor lasers (single-mode fiber pigtailed) not off-the shelf expensive custom-made fiber optic components high dispersion ==> high PM to AM noise conversion least industrial support in the future

26

Steve Yao, JPL

Commonly used lasers for RF systems

Fabry-Perot laser (F-P laser)
Gain medium

Distributed feedback laser (DFB laser) Grating

Gain medium

* Optical feedback provided by the end mirrors * multi-longitudinal modes * higher noise due to mode competition

* Optical feedback provided by the grating on top of the gain medium * single longitudinal mode * lower noise

wavelength

27

wavelength Steve Yao, JPL

Commonly used lasers for RF systems

Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) Laser
Gratings
Gain medium
Laser rod Diode laser bar

Diode-pumped solid-state laser

* Bragg gratings are narrow band reflectors * Optical feedback provided by grating reflection * single/multimodes operation

* Solid state gain medium pumped by diode lasers * Narrowest spectral width * Lowest noise * Most expensive * Less reliable
Steve Yao, JPL

28

Commonly used Photodetectors

InGaAs PIN photodiodes (0.8 - 1.7 um) High responsivity: up to 0.95 A/W commercially available High saturation power: up to 15 mW commercially available High speed: up to 25 GHz commercially available Lowest dark current: ~0.1 nA (intrinsic noise) InGaAs Schottky photodiodes (0.95 - 1.65 um) Lower responsivity: ~ 0.4A/W Highest speed: 60 GHz commercially available Low saturation power: ~ 2 mW Ge PIN photodiodes (0.8 - 1.8 um) High responsivity: ~0.9 A/W Higher dark current: ~ 1 nA Not well developed for high speed: ~ <6 GHz

29

Steve Yao, JPL

Modulators
Mach-Zehnder modulator
Optical in Optical outs

Directional coupler modulator

Optical in Optical outs

RF in

RF in

* Wide Bandwidth: up to 100 GHz * Good linearity * No chirp (good) * Well developed, widely used * High drive voltage ==> High RF insertion loss
Laser

* Potential large Bandwidth * Not well developed * Not as good linearity * Modulation chirp * High drive voltage ==> High RF insertion loss

Electro-absorption modulator
Optical out

RF in

* Wideband width: up to 60 GHz * Easy integration with diode lasers * Extremely compact * Low drive voltage * Modulation chirp (not good)
30 Steve Yao, JPL

Other fiber optic devices available

Directional couplers (ratio: 1 - 50%, backreflection < -65 dBo) Isolators (insertion loss: < 0.6 dBo, isolation > 40 dBo) Circulators (insertion loss: < 0.8 dB, isolation > 40 dBo) Polarizers (insertion loss: < 0. 4 dB, backreflection < -60 dB ) Polarization controllers (no loss, no backreflection) Filters (insertion loss < 0.5 dB, BW: 0.8 nm and up) Faraday polarization rotator and mirror connectors: Physical contact (PC) and angled physical contact(APC)
loss < 0. 25 dB, backreflection: PC < -40 dB, APC < -65 dB

Fiber optic amplifiers: doped fiber & semiconductor

31

Steve Yao, JPL

Noise sources in photonic systems

Thermal noise: kT Shot noise: 2eIR Laser RIN (relative intensity noise): <P2>/P2 1/f RIN (at < 10 kHz) Relaxation oscillation RIN peak Interferometric noise Double Rayleigh scattering noise Brillouin scattering caused noise Fiber dispersion mediated noise Fiber thermal noise
32 Steve Yao, JPL

White Noise
Noise density (dBm/Hz) -160 -170 -180 -190 0 1 2

Thermal noise Shot noise RIN noise (RIN: -160 dB/Hz) Total noise 3 4 5 6 7 8

Photocurrent (mW)

33

Steve Yao, JPL

1/f RIN & Relaxation Oscillation RIN

-90 dB/Hz

RIN Noise (dB/Hz)

Typical diode pump YAG laser

-115 dB/Hz

1/f

-135 dB/Hz -145 dB/Hz < -160 dB/Hz

1 Hz

10kHz

200 kHz

10 MHz

Frequency
* The low frequency 1/f noise & relaxation oscillation peak will be multiplied up by the modulator & affect the signal
34 Steve Yao, JPL

Double Rayleigh Scattering

Rayleigh scattering: photon being scattered from random material inhomogeneities
Transmitted light
Signal sideband Optical carrier

Brillouin + Rayleigh scattering

Brillouin scattering: photon being scattered by acoustic phonons in the fiber.
Brillouin scattering

Signal sideband

3 2 1+1, 2+2, 3+3 ==> no wary 1+2, 1+3, 1+2, 1+3 ==> noise around signal!!
Low freq. noise (< 1 GHz),
37

Rayleigh scattering
Stokes shift

Double scattered light

Brillouin + Rayleigh

Signal sideband

Optical carrier Signal sideband

Scattered light is frequency down shifted (Stokes shift) from the entering light. When modulation frequency = Stokes shift ==> noise around signal
Steve Yao, JPL

Fiber thermal fluctuation noise

Just like Johnsons noise, fibers refractive index fluctuates with kT First studied by fiber gyro researchers

Fiber dispersion mediated noise Dispersion: different light frequency

see different fiber lengths

For 9/125 um fiber @ 1.3 um <f>/f = <L>/L ~10-12/L1/2 10-13

Optical frequency fluctuation ==> RF phase fluctuation

For standard single mode fiber, 1 nm away from zero dispersion:

L = 100 m ==> <f>/f ~

<f>/f =<L>/L ~ 0.6 x 10-5 / /: laser frequency stability /=1010 ==> <f>/f = 6 x 10-15

L = 10 km ==> <f>/f ~ 10-14

38

Steve Yao, JPL

Fiber Optic Frequency Standard Distribution

Frequency standards are extremely expensive Multiple users at different location share one standard ==> big money saving Distribution system should not degrade the performance of the standard In 1981, JPL pioneered the fiber optic frequency standard distribution The only workable solution so far

39

Steve Yao, JPL

Photonic technology for signal mixing & multiplication

Photonic links w/ traditional & photonic mixers Pros & cons of present photonic signal mixing SOA based photonic mixing links Brillouin Selective Sideband Amplification (BSSA) of RF signals BSSA based photonic mixing links OEO based photonic mixing links Summary
44 Steve Yao, JPL

Fiber Optic Links w/ traditional mixers

Directly Modulated
Broadband Control Station

Externally Modulated
RF
LD EOM RF

IF
LD MMW fLO Low speed

RF Fiber
PD Base station BS

Fiber

PD

IF

fLO

IF fLO
MMW

IF
LD LD PD PD To other BS

RF

IF
LD LD EOM PD

RF
PD

Fiber

fLO

fLO

High speed, but narrow bandwidth Low speed

IF

IF
LD

RF

IF
LD LD EOM

Filter

RF

Fiber

PD LO control LO

Fiber

PD

LO Control

fLO

fLO

45

Steve Yao, JPL

Photonic Mixing Links

* Photodetector acts as mixer * Subharmonics of MMW used as LO to generate optical sidebands
IF Multimodes LD

IF/RF

Mixer
LD Mach-Zenhder PD

Up/Down conv. RF/IF Filter

fLO/n, n = 1, 2, 3...

Mixer
PD

Up conv. only RF Filter

IF/RF LD EOM

Mixer
PD

Up/Down conv. RF/IF Filter

fLO/n, n = 1, 2, 3...
to mode-lock the laser

fLO/n, n = 1, 2, 3...

IF/RF

Mixer Up/Down Conv.

LD LD PD PD Filter RF/IF
LD LD

IF/RF

Mixer
EOM PD PD

Up/Down conv. RF/IF Filter

fLO
Modulate the bias of the detector

fLO/n, n = 1, 2, 3...

fLO/n, n = 1, 2, 3...

46

Steve Yao, JPL

Photodetector as a mixer
Power Law Photodetector ==> acts as a mixer
Photocurrent I ~ |E|2

(Asin2f1 + Bsin2f2)2 f1 f2
Optical freq.

==> (f1 + f2) and (f1 - f2)

LO RF IF IF

LO

fo Optical carrier Modulator & photodector combination ==> signal up or down conversion

Pros & Cons of Present Photonic Mixing Links Pros

* Separate LO trans. not needed * Harmonic up/down conversion ==> Lower freq. LO & circuit * Slow detector for down conv. ==> lower cost, higher power * Slow laser/EOM for up conv. ==> lower cost * Infinite isolation: LO & RF
47 Steve Yao, JPL

Cons
* Low efficiency (most cases) * High LO power (some cases) * Freq. locking circuits needed (some cases)

All-Optical RF Mixing Using a Semiconductor Optical Amplifier (SOA)

RF LO

Pin ( t)
RF LO

RF-LO RF+ LO

G(t) SOA Pout( t) LO Modulates the Gain

= G(t)

RF * P in ( t)

Advantages: * Mixing with Gain * Flexible LO location * LO can be distributed in the network

(b) 1312 nm LD1 1320 nm LD2

6 GHz

Modulator

RF SOA

Optical Filter @1312 nm Optical Detector

RF Spectrum Analyzer

Modulator

LO
5 GHz

Gain Mod. Bandwidth > 50 GHz

48 Steve Yao, JPL

Performance of SOA Based Photonic Mixing Link IF Gain Measurement

-30 -35 -40 -45 -50 -55 -60 -48 -46 -44 -42 -40 Input RF Power (dBm) 1GHz, OMI(LO) = 90 % 11 GHz, OMI(LO) = 90% 1GHz, OMI(LO) = 30% 11 GHz, OMI(LO) = 30% -38
es Lossl s Lin e

IF Optical Mod. Index

10 IF modulation index

IF Power (dBm)

0.1 10

LO Modulation Index (%) 1GHz, OMI(RF) = 25% 11GHz, OMI(RF) = 25% 1GHz, OMI(RF) = 15% 11GHz, OMI(RF) = 15%

10 0

* IF Gain: 8 dB
49

* 3rd Order IMD < 45 dBC

Steve Yao, JPL

Brillouin Selective Sideband Amplification

RF Power (dBm)

BSSA
-40 -60 -80

RF TX Pump LD
12.8 GHz @ 1.3 um 10 GHz @ 1.5 um BW: ~10 MHz

Bias Tee PD

FM Signal: 10 MHz BW

RF

RF Power (dBm)

Freq. Locking

-40 -60 -80

G = 40 dB

pump

Freq.

5.44

5.45 5.46 5.47 5.48 Frequency (GHz)

TX

Freq.
RF Gain (dB)

40 30 20 10 0 0
RF input: -12.17 dBm -2.17 dBm 2.83 dBm 7.83 dBm

* Fiber as gain medium * Low pump power ~ 10 mW * Dispersion robust * Highly efficient
50

5 10 15 Optical Pump Power (mW)

20

Steve Yao, JPL

BSSA as a tuner for SCM systems

Tuning pump laser frequency to selectively amplify a channel
pump
Opt. Freq.

Filter + Gain
TX
Opt. Freq.

Frequency multiplication
-20
LD EOM PD

15 GHz 10 GHz 5 GHz

-30

20 GHz

Power (dBm)

fm

Pump LD Tuning pump freq.

-40 -50 -60 -70

25 GHz

pump fm LD

Freq.

Freq.

-80

10 15 20 Frequency (GHz)

25

51

Steve Yao, JPL

BSSA Assisted Harmonic Up/Down Conversions

IF/RF
Transmitter
LD EOM

Receiver Mixer Bias Tee

PD LPF

RF/IF

fLO/n, n = 1, 2, 3... Pump LD Pump control

* Slow modulators do fast things * Conversions with IF (RF) gain * PM modulator OK ==> lower loss, less expensive * Low LO driving power
0.5 GHz modulator ==> 8 GHz 2 GHz modulator ==> 32 GHz 10 GHz modulator ==> 160 GHz

pump
onversio

Opt. Freq.

RF Power (dBm)

fm LD
n
Opt. Freq.

-20 2 -40 -60 -80 1 2 1

5 x y u v

7 8

Up Co nv er sio

Down C

LD LD

Opt. Freq.

Opt. Freq.

52

Frequency (GHz) Steve Yao, JPL

Opto-electronic Oscillator based Photonic Mixing Links Advantages: OEO Module

Integrated Laser/Modulator E/A modulator Optical out Laser Electrical out Amp. Fiber loop

* Dual electrical & optical outputs * High spectral purity, low phase noise * Frequency up to 100 GHz * Compact & potentially low cost * Tunable & VCO * Eliminate external LO ==> lower cost

OEO

Detector

No external LO needed
RF

RF

Transmitting
Slow modulator OEO IF/data

Receiving
OEO

Fast detector PD

IF/Data PD

53

Steve Yao, JPL

Section Summary
Photonic mixing makes RF links cost effective SOA based mixing provides conversion gain BSSA holds promise for RF systems BSSA assisted mixing provides conversion gain & harmonic conversion capabilities OEO based photonic mixing eliminate electrical LO & greatly simplifies system design.

54

Steve Yao, JPL

Photonic Techniques for generating RF signals Requirements of Photonic Signal Sources Evolution of Oscillators Opto-electronic oscillators (OEO) Properties of OEO Experimental results Comparison with other type oscillators Coupled Opto-electronic oscillators (COEO) Summary
55 Steve Yao, JPL

Special Requirement of Signal Sources For Photonic Applications

E O O O O E

* Photonic Systems are Electro-Optic Hybrid Systems

===> Ideal Signal Source: both Electrical & Optical Signals Avoid high loss E/O and O/E conversions ===> Can be Interfaced with the System both Electrically & Optically.

* Photonic systems are Broadband Systems

===> High Frequency ===> Wide Tuning Range

56

Steve Yao, JPL

Evolution of Oscillators
Mechanical Oscillators: Pendulum, tuning fork ==> Electronic Oscillators: Van der Pol oscillator ==> electromechanical Hybrid Oscillators: Quartz Oscillator ==> Atomic Oscillators: Maser, Cesium beam standard ==> Optical Oscillators: Laser ==> 6. Electro-Optic Hybrid Oscillator? ==> OEO & COEO OEO is a new class of oscillators Electrical & Optical Hybrid
57 Steve Yao, JPL

OEO vs. van der Pol Oscillator

van der Pol Oscillator
ip Plate current
V p V g Electrons Plate
LC tank

Opto-electronic Oscillator
VpB Fiber delay V B

iph Photocurrent
Photodiode Filter

Vm

Cathode

_ kHz

+
Photons in

kHz to > 70 GHz

Laser

Low Q & Low Frequency

58

High Q & High Frequency

Steve Yao, JPL

OEO Features
Pump Laser E/O Intensity Modulator Optical output
Optical Fiber Electrical path

Fiber Spool

Electrical filter Electrical output Electrical signal splitter Electrical Amplifier

Photodetector

High Q resulting from the low loss fiber ==> Low phase noise High frequency resulting from fast photonic devices Widely tunable Both electrical & optical outputs ==>No E/O & O/E conversion required Can be locked to a master reference either optically or electrically Meets the requirements of RF photonics systems
59 Steve Yao, JPL

Other Approaches for Generating Photonics Signals

* Multiplier + E/O Conversion Quartz
Multi-stage multipliers

E/O
Modulated Optical Signal

* Beating Two Lasers

Requiring: Phase lock or injection lock to a RF source
Laser1 Laser2

Limited by RF sources

Reference Source ~

* Beating two modes of a mode locked laser

RF source is also required
60 Steve Yao, JPL

Performance Characteristics of OEO

Oscillation Amplitude vs. Open Loop Gain

Data & Fit

0.7 0.6 0.5

Vosc/V

0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.0 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 Open Loop Voltage Gain Data 5th order fit 3rd order fit

61

Steve Yao, JPL

Phase noise vs. frequency offset

Phase Noise (dBc/Hz)
-100 -110 -120 -130 -140 -150
3 4 5 6 7 8 9 4 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 5

-28.70-20logf -34.84-20logf -38.14-20logf -40.61-20logf -50.45-20logf

Po=13.33 dBm Po=13.00 dBm Po=12.67 dBm Po=12.67 dBm Po=10.33 dBm 0.06 s 0.13 s 0.21 s 0.28 s 1.2 s

10 Frequency offset (Hz)

10

Phase noise vs. loop delay time

Phase Noise (dBc/Hz)
-120 -125 -130 -135 -140
6 7 8 9 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Corrected data -142.21-20*log(delay)

0.1 Loop delay ( s)

62

Steve Yao, JPL

OEO Phase noise as a function of oscillation frequency

Phase Noise(dBc/Hz)
-110 -115 -120 -125 -130 -135 -140 3 100MHz 300MHz 700MHz 800MHz

(a)
4 5 6 7 8 9

Frequency offset (Hz) Phase Noise (dBc/Hz)

-100 -105 -110 -115 -120 -125 100 Data multiplied result Data Fit

10

7 8 9

10

(b)
200 300 400 500 600700800

Oscillation Frequency (MHz) 63 Steve Yao, JPL

Spectral Purity Comparison

HP8671B OEO
0
Span: 1MHz RBW: 1 kHz Span: 1MHz RBW: 1 kHz

0 -40 -40 -80 10.0072 0 0

Span: 100 kHz

Power (dBm) -80 10.0076 10.0060 10.0064 10.0068

Power (dBm)

Power (dBm)

Power (dBm)

64
-40 RBW: 100 Hz -40 RBW: 100 Hz -80 10.00740 10.00744 0
Span: 50 kHz RBW: 100 Hz Span: 50 kHz RBW: 100 Hz Span: 100k Hz

-80 10.00736 0 -40 -80 10.00740 0 -40 -80 10.00740 Frequency (GHz)
Span: 50 kHz RBW: 10 Hz

10.00630

-40 -80 10.00632 0

Span: 50 kHz

10.00634

-40 RBW: 10 Hz -80 10.00632 10.00634 Frequency (GHz)

Steve Yao, JPL

Comparison with Commercial Oscillators

Phase Noise @ 10 GHz, 10 kHz from carrier HP high performance synthesizer: -94 dBc/Hz Best quartz multiplied to 10 GHz: -114 dBc/Hz -140 dBc/Hz

1st OEO bench unit at 10 GHz:

65

Steve Yao, JPL

Phase Noise of an OEO at 10 GHz

-40

SSB Phase Noise (dBc/Hz)

-60 HP8671B

-80 HP8662, approx.

Multiplied

-100 OEO -120

SLC oscillator free running

1 2 3 4 5 6

-140 10

10 10 Offset Frequency (Hz)

3 4 5 6

3 4 5 6

10

OEO free running @ room temperature Jitter: 1.6 fs for f >1kHz, 16 fs for f > 100 Hz
66 Steve Yao, JPL

Coupled Opto-electronic Oscillator

A variation of OEO ==>

-wave & laser oscillations coupled together

b) 0 Laser Natural Modes 3 filter 0 RF Freq. Optical Freq.

RF output Pol. controller

MZ modulator

c)

Possible mode beating freqs. 3 filter

RF filter

800 m fiber

d) 0 Natural opto-electronic loop modes RF Freq. 3

RF amp.
e)

a)

Isolator SOA Optical output

0 filter f)

Final lasing Modes 3 Final OEO modes

Optical Freq.

Steve Yao, JPL

67

RF Freq.

Optical Pulse measurement

w/ a 40 GHz detector and Tek CSA 803

Phase Noise Measurement

Using Frequency Discrimination Method

Pulse width: 17 ps
-40 Phase Noise (dBc/Hz)

10 GHz
1 st 10 GHz COEO
-60 -80 HP8671B

-100 COEO OEO 100 1000 Offset Frequency (Hz) 10000 -120 -140 10

50 ps

68

Steve Yao, JPL

Section summary
OEO & COEO hold promise as high freq., low phase noise, & low jitter -wave & optical sources Lowest phase noise @ 10 GHz of any free running oscillator at room temperature Further phase noise reduction using noise reduction techniques Low jitter reference signal for -wave, mm-wave communication & photonic A/D
69 Steve Yao, JPL