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Integrated optical frequency division for microwave and mmWave generation

Author

Listed:
  • Shuman Sun

    (University of Virginia)

  • Beichen Wang

    (University of Virginia)

  • Kaikai Liu

    (University of California Santa Barbara)

  • Mark W. Harrington

    (University of California Santa Barbara)

  • Fatemehsadat Tabatabaei

    (University of Virginia)

  • Ruxuan Liu

    (University of Virginia)

  • Jiawei Wang

    (University of California Santa Barbara)

  • Samin Hanifi

    (University of Virginia)

  • Jesse S. Morgan

    (University of Virginia)

  • Mandana Jahanbozorgi

    (University of Virginia)

  • Zijiao Yang

    (University of Virginia
    University of Virginia)

  • Steven M. Bowers

    (University of Virginia)

  • Paul A. Morton

    (Palm Bay)

  • Karl D. Nelson

    (Honeywell Aerospace Technologies)

  • Andreas Beling

    (University of Virginia)

  • Daniel J. Blumenthal

    (University of California Santa Barbara)

  • Xu Yi

    (University of Virginia
    University of Virginia)

Abstract

The generation of ultra-low-noise microwave and mmWave in miniaturized, chip-based platforms can transform communication, radar and sensing systems1–3. Optical frequency division that leverages optical references and optical frequency combs has emerged as a powerful technique to generate microwaves with superior spectral purity than any other approaches4–7. Here we demonstrate a miniaturized optical frequency division system that can potentially transfer the approach to a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor-compatible integrated photonic platform. Phase stability is provided by a large mode volume, planar-waveguide-based optical reference coil cavity8,9 and is divided down from optical to mmWave frequency by using soliton microcombs generated in a waveguide-coupled microresonator10–12. Besides achieving record-low phase noise for integrated photonic mmWave oscillators, these devices can be heterogeneously integrated with semiconductor lasers, amplifiers and photodiodes, holding the potential of large-volume, low-cost manufacturing for fundamental and mass-market applications13.

Suggested Citation

  • Shuman Sun & Beichen Wang & Kaikai Liu & Mark W. Harrington & Fatemehsadat Tabatabaei & Ruxuan Liu & Jiawei Wang & Samin Hanifi & Jesse S. Morgan & Mandana Jahanbozorgi & Zijiao Yang & Steven M. Bower, 2024. "Integrated optical frequency division for microwave and mmWave generation," Nature, Nature, vol. 627(8004), pages 540-545, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:627:y:2024:i:8004:d:10.1038_s41586-024-07057-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07057-0
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Bibo He & Jiachuan Yang & Fei Meng & Jialiang Yu & Chenbo Zhang & Qi-Fan Yang & Yani Zuo & Yige Lin & Zhangyuan Chen & Zhanjun Fang & Xiaopeng Xie, 2025. "Highly coherent two-color laser and its application for low-noise microwave generation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Xiaomin Lv & Binbin Nie & Chen Yang & Rui Ma & Ze Wang & Yanwu Liu & Xing Jin & Kaixuan Zhu & Zhenyu Chen & Du Qian & Guanyu Zhang & Guowei Lv & Qihuang Gong & Fang Bo & Qi-Fan Yang, 2025. "Broadband microwave-rate dark pulse microcombs in dissipation-engineered LiNbO3 microresonators," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Peng Liu & Qing-Xin Ji & Jin-Yu Liu & Jinhao Ge & Mingxiao Li & Joel Guo & Warren Jin & Maodong Gao & Yan Yu & Avi Feshali & Mario Paniccia & John E. Bowers & Kerry J. Vahala, 2025. "Near-visible integrated soliton microcombs with detectable repetition rates," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-6, December.
    4. Kaikai Liu & Karl D. Nelson & Ryan O. Behunin & Daniel J. Blumenthal, 2025. "Large mode volume integrated Brillouin lasers for scalable ultra-low linewidth and high power," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-8, December.
    5. David A. S. Heim & Debapam Bose & Kaikai Liu & Andrei Isichenko & Daniel J. Blumenthal, 2025. "Hybrid integrated ultra-low linewidth coil stabilized isolator-free widely tunable external cavity laser," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.

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