Title :
Ultra-low-noise regenerative frequency divider for high-spectral-purity RF signal generation
Author :
Hati, A. ; Nelson, C.W. ; Barnes, C. ; Lirette, D. ; DeSalvo, J.A. ; Fortier, T. ; Quinlan, F. ; Ludlow, A. ; Rosenband, T. ; Diddams, S.A. ; Howe, D.A.
Author_Institution :
Time & Freq. Div., Nat. Inst. of Stand. & Technol., Boulder, CO, USA
Abstract :
We implement an ultra-low-noise frequency divider chain from 8 GHz to 5 MHz that utilizes custom-built regenerative frequency divide-by-2 circuits. The single-sideband (SSB) residual phase-noise of this regenerative divider at 5 MHz output is -163 dBc/Hz at 10 Hz offset frequency. This level is achieved with custom-built mixers that use 2N2222A bipolar junction transistors in a conventional double-balanced diode ring. We report absolute phase-noise of radio-frequency (RF) signals at 10 MHz and 5 MHz obtained by dividing an 8 GHz signal generated from ultra-stable optical comb-based frequency division. The absolute SSB phase-noise for a 10 MHz and 5 MHz signal at 1 Hz offset is -143 dBc/Hz and -150 dBc/Hz, and at 100 kHz offset is -174 dBc/Hz and -177 dBc/Hz, respectively.
Keywords :
bipolar transistors; frequency dividers; microwave frequency convertors; microwave generation; microwave mixers; phase noise; signal generators; 2N2222A bipolar junction transistors; RF signals; SSB residual phase-noise; custom-built mixers; double-balanced diode ring; frequency 8 GHz to 5 MHz; high-spectral-purity RF signal generation; radio-frequency signals; regenerative frequency divide-by-2 circuits; single-sideband residual phase-noise; ultra-stable optical comb-based frequency division; ultralow-noise regenerative frequency divider; Frequency synthesizers; Microwave circuits; Mixers; Noise; Optical frequency conversion; Phase measurement;
Conference_Titel :
Frequency Control Symposium (FCS), 2012 IEEE International
Conference_Location :
Baltimore, MD
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4577-1821-2
DOI :
10.1109/FCS.2012.6243683