High-Q optical resonators: characterization and application to stabilization of lasers and high spectral purity microwave oscillators

Olivier Llopis (1) , Pierre-Henri Merrer (1) , Aude Bouchier (1) , Khaldoun Saleh (1) , Gilles Cibiel (2)

1 LAAS-MOST - Équipe Microondes et Opto-microondes pour Systèmes de Télécommunications
2 CNES - Centre National d'Études Spatiales [Toulouse]

Microwave optical systems for frequency generation are described in this paper. The goal is to reach high spectral purity in the microwave frequency range using ultra high Q optical resonators. The resonators investigated are of two types : resonant (passive) fiber rings and WGM tridimensional resonators. They all feature ultra high optical Q factors, in excess of 10^8 or 10^9 near 1550 nm. These resonators also sustain a large number of optical resonances, and the microwave signal is stabilized on two (or more) resonances of this optical comb. Different problems have to be overcome in order to reach a functional system, such as : resonator design and coupling, laser stabilization on a resonance, overall system design, noise optimization... This paper gives an overlook on these problems, and on some solutions we found to work towards a compact and efficient microwave opto-electronic oscillator (OEO). A first result is presented on a 10 GHz OEO based on a resonant fiber ring.

Mots clés: microwave oscillator; optical resonator; WGM resonator; phase noise; optical fiber

Domaines: Micro et nanotechnologies/Microélectronique; Optique / photonique

Olivier Llopis, Pierre-Henri Merrer, Aude Bouchier, Khaldoun Saleh, Gilles Cibiel. High-Q optical resonators: characterization and application to stabilization of lasers and high spectral purity microwave oscillators. SPIE Photonics West, Jan 2010, San Francisco, United States. p. 75791B-1. ⟨hal-00483200⟩