title: Ultralow phase noise microwave generation with an Er:fiber-based optical frequency divider.
abstract: We present an optical frequency divider based on a 200 MHz repetition rate Er:fiber mode-locked laser that, when locked to a stable optical frequency reference, generates microwave signals with absolute phase noise that is equal to or better than cryogenic microwave oscillators. At 1 Hz offset from a 10 GHz carrier, the phase noise is below -100 dBc/Hz, limited by the optical reference. For offset frequencies >10 kHz, the phase noise is shot noise limited at -145 dBc/Hz. An analysis of the contribution of the residual noise from the Er:fiber optical frequency divider is also presented.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Standards and Technology, 325 Broadway, Boulder, Colorado 80305, USA. fquinlan@boulder.nist.gov
authors.forename: Franklyn
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Quinlan
authors.forename: Tara M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Fortier
authors.forename: Matthew S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kirchner
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Thorpe
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lemke
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Ludlow
authors.forename: Yanyi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Diddams