title: Low-noise RF-amplifier-free slab-coupled optical waveguide coupled optoelectronic oscillators: physics and operation.
abstract: We demonstrate a 10-GHz RF-amplifier-free slab-coupled optical waveguide coupled optoelectronic oscillator (SCOW-COEO) system operating with low phase-noise (<-115 dBc/Hz at 1 kHz offset) and large sidemode suppression (>70 dB measurement-limited). The optical pulses generated by the SCOW-COEO exhibit 26.8-ps pulse width (post compression) with a corresponding spectral bandwidth of 0.25 nm (1.8X transform-limited). We also investigate the mechanisms that limit the performance of the COEO. Our measurements indicate that degradation in the quality factor (Q) of the optical cavity significantly impacts COEO phase-noise through increases in the optical amplifier relative intensity noise (RIN).
authors.affiliation: Lincoln Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lexington, Massachusetts 02420, USA. William.Loh@ll.mit.edu
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Loh
authors.forename: Siva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yegnanarayanan
authors.forename: Jason J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Plant
authors.forename: Frederick J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
authors.forename: Matthew E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Grein
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Klamkin
authors.forename: Shannon M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Duff
authors.forename: Paul W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Juodawlkis
mesh_terms: D000669:Amplifiers, Electronic; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D008027:Light; D055617:Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009991:Oscillometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011846:Radio Waves; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D059629:Signal-To-Noise Ratio; D020349:Surface Plasmon Resonance / Q000295:instrumentation*