Low-noise synthesis of microwave and millimetre-wave signals with optical frequency comb generator

The phase noise of a 20 GHz picosecond optical pulse train generated by a modulator-based optical frequency comb generator is analysed. The residual timing jitter is 10 fs for Fourier frequencies from 10 Hz to 10 MHz. Photodetection of the optical pulse train provides millimetre-wave signals with similarly low residual jitter at 40, 60, and 80 GHz with applicable powers of 7.5, 10.5, and 13 dBm, respectively.