Title :
Offset phase locking of Er,Yb:glass laser eigenstates for RF photonics applications
Author :
Alouini, M. ; Benazet, B. ; Vallet, M. ; Brunel, M. ; Bin, P. Di ; Bretenaker, F. ; Le Floch, A. ; Thony, P.
Author_Institution :
Lab. d´´Electron. Quantique-Phys. des Lasers, Rennes I Univ., France
fDate :
4/1/2001 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
An optical source of microwaves with very low phase noise for communications and radar systems is realized and tested. It is obtained by dual-frequency operation of a diode pumped Er,Yb:glass laser. An electrooptic crystal inserted inside the resonator permits both to tune the frequency difference between orthogonally polarized eigenstates, and to turn the laser into a voltage controlled oscillator. An optical phase-locked loop is then implemented in the GHz range, resulting in a measured instrument limited 3 dB-linewidth of 10 Hz. The phase noise is shown to be -100 dBc/Hz at 10-kHz offset.
Keywords :
eigenvalues and eigenfunctions; electro-optical devices; erbium; laser cavity resonators; laser mode locking; laser noise; laser tuning; microwave photonics; optical communication equipment; optical phase locked loops; phase noise; solid lasers; ytterbium; Er,Yb:glass laser eigenstates; GHz range; RF photonics applications; diode pumped Er,Yb:glass laser; dual-frequency operation; electrooptic crystal; frequency difference; laser resonator tuning; offset phase locking; optical microwave source; optical phase-locked loop; orthogonally polarized eigenstates; phase noise; radar systems; very low phase noise; voltage controlled oscillator; Laser noise; Laser radar; Laser tuning; Lasers and electrooptics; Masers; Optical noise; Optical pumping; Optical resonators; Pump lasers; Radio frequency;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE
