A self-starting hybrid optoelectronic oscillator generating ultra low jitter 10-GHz optical pulses and low phase noise electrical signals

• Published in: IEEE photonics technology letters Vol. 14; no. 7; pp. 1004 - 1006
• Main Authors: Lasri, J., Bilenca, A., Dahan, D., Sidorov, V., Eisenstein, G., Ritter, D., Yvind, K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York IEEE 01-07-2002; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Amplitudes; Frequency; Frequency ranges; Hybrid power systems; Injection-locked oscillators; Jitter; Low noise; Noise; Noise level; Optical noise; Optical pulse generation; Optical pulses; Optoelectronics; Oscillators; Phase noise; Signal generators
• ISSN: 1041-1135; 1941-0174
• DOI: 10.1109/LPT.2002.1012413

We describe a self-starting optical pulse source generating ultra low noise 15-ps-wide pulses at 10 GHz. It is based on a hybrid optoelectronic oscillator comprising a fiber extended cavity mode-locked diode laser which injection locks a self-oscillating heterojunction bipolar phototransistor. Average jitter levels of 40-43 fs and an amplitude noise of 0.1-0.15% over a frequency range of 500 Hz-15 kHz or 500 Hz-1 MHz were obtained, respectively. The noise is slightly larger, a 57-fs jitter and 0.2% amplitude noise, for a frequency range of 100 Hz-1 MHz. A 10-GHz electrical signal with a low phase noise (-108 dBc/Hz at 10-kHz offset from the carrier) is also generated.