Subspace tracking for phase noise source separation in frequency combs.

It is widely acknowledged that the phase noise of an optical frequency comb primarily stems from the common mode (carrier-envelope) and the repetition rate phase noise. However, owing to technical noise sources or other intricate intra-cavity factors, residual phase noise components, distinct from the common mode and the repetition rate phase noise, may also exist. We introduce a measurement technique that combines subspace tracking and multi-heterodyne coherent detection for the separation of different phase noise sources. This method allows us to break down the overall phase noise sources associated with a specific comb-line into distinct phase noise components associated with the common mode, the repetition rate and the residual phase noise terms. The measurement method allow us, for the first time, to identify and measure residual phase noise sources of a frequency modulated mode-locked laser.

3D integration enables ultralow-noise isolator-free lasers in silicon photonics.

Photonic integrated circuits are widely used in applications such as telecommunications and data-centre interconnects1-5. However, in optical systems such as microwave synthesizers6, optical gyroscopes7 and atomic clocks8, photonic integrated circuits are still considered inferior solutions despite their advantages in size, weight, power consumption and cost. Such high-precision and highly coherent applications favour ultralow-noise laser sources to be integrated with other photonic components in a compact and robustly aligned format-that is, on a single chip-for photonic integrated circuits to replace bulk optics and fibres. There are two major issues preventing the realization of such envisioned photonic integrated circuits: the high phase noise of semiconductor lasers and the difficulty of integrating optical isolators directly on-chip. Here we challenge this convention by leveraging three-dimensional integration that results in ultralow-noise lasers with isolator-free operation for silicon photonics. Through multiple monolithic and heterogeneous processing sequences, direct on-chip integration of III-V gain medium and ultralow-loss silicon nitride waveguides with optical loss around 0.5 decibels per metre are demonstrated. Consequently, the demonstrated photonic integrated circuit enters a regime that gives rise to ultralow-noise lasers and microwave synthesizers without the need for optical isolators, owing to the ultrahigh-quality-factor cavity. Such photonic integrated circuits also offer superior scalability for complex functionalities and volume production, as well as improved stability and reliability over time. The three-dimensional integration on ultralow-loss photonic integrated circuits thus marks a critical step towards complex systems and networks on silicon.

Broadband quantum-dot frequency-modulated comb laser.

Frequency-modulated (FM) laser combs, which offer a quasi-continuous-wave output and a flat-topped optical spectrum, are emerging as a promising solution for wavelength-division multiplexing applications, precision metrology, and ultrafast optical ranging. The generation of FM combs relies on spatial hole burning, group velocity dispersion, Kerr nonlinearity, and four-wave mixing (FWM). While FM combs have been widely observed in quantum cascade Fabry-Perot (FP) lasers, the requirement for a low-dispersion FP cavity can be a challenge in platforms where the waveguide dispersion is mainly determined by the material. Here we report a 60 GHz quantum-dot (QD) mode-locked laser in which both the amplitude-modulated (AM) and the FM comb can be generated independently. The high FWM efficiency of -5 dB allows the QD laser to generate FM comb efficiently. We also demonstrate that the Kerr nonlinearity can be practically engineered to improve the FM comb bandwidth without the need for GVD engineering. The maximum 3-dB bandwidth that our QD platform can deliver is as large as 2.2 THz. This study gives novel insights into the improvement of FM combs and paves the way for small-footprint, electrically pumped, and energy-efficient frequency combs for silicon photonic integrated circuits (PICs).

Soliton mode-locked fiber laser for distance measurements.

Absolute distance measurement is crucial for many applications including metrology, large-scale manufacturing, range finding, and surveying. In this paper, a novel, to the best of our knowledge, technique is introduced for precise distance measurement by including the distance under measurement in a soliton mode-locked fiber ring laser (SMFRL). Consequently, the measured distance can be calculated from the change in the repetition rate of the emitted pulses due to the laser cavity length change. The SMFRL technique is implemented here to measure distances up to 57.4 m with precision of less than 9 µm. Therefore, we believe that the SMRFL technique provides a relatively simple and precise technique to measure relatively long distances.

Using femtosecond laser pulses for electronic distance meter calibration.

Electronic distance meters (EDMs) are widely used in different applications, such as surveying and civil engineering. In order to calibrate an EDM, different techniques can be used, including displacement interferometers and reference baselines. In this paper, an indoor baseline is designed and then accurately measured using femtosecond laser pulses from an optical frequency comb to be used for EDM calibration. The baseline consists of 13 fixed bases that cover 58 m distance. In order to accurately measure the distances between the bases, autocorrelation between femtosecond laser pulses is employed. The measurement shows a maximum precision of 14 µm over the 13 bases. Although this deviation is dominated mainly by the placement of the target mirror, the system capability is much more sufficient to safely calibrate the best available commercial EDM. The stability of the baseline is also investigated by measuring the interbase distances over long periods of time.

Absolute gauge block calibration using ultra-precise optical frequency synthesizer locked to a femtosecond comb.

In this paper, we report a gauge block (GB) calibration that is traceable to the SI unit of time, the second. Four ultra-stable optical telecommunication wavelengths near 1556 nm are obtained by locking a narrow-tuning-range fiber laser to a fiber-based femtosecond frequency comb. Since the GB calibration system does not operate at this region of spectrum, the superior frequency stability of the laser is transferred to the 778 nm region by using a waveguide periodically poled lithium niobate crystal. After applying the locking scheme, the stability and accuracy of the laser become better than 8×10(-12). The frequency-doubled light is sent through 30 m optical fiber to a GB interferometer, which is installed at a different laboratory in the same building. Using this calibration scheme, a GB with a nominal length of 100 mm is calibrated with an uncertainty of ±52 nm. This uncertainty value is still comparable to or even better than other metrology laboratories for a similar block length.

Precision measurement of the hydrogen 1S-2S frequency via a 920-km fiber link.

We have measured the frequency of the extremely narrow 1S-2S two-photon transition in atomic hydrogen using a remote cesium fountain clock with the help of a 920 km stabilized optical fiber. With an improved detection method we obtain f(1S-2S)=2466 061 413 187 018 (11) Hz with a relative uncertainty of 4.5×10(-15), confirming our previous measurement obtained with a local cesium clock [C. G. Parthey et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 203001 (2011)]. Combining these results with older measurements, we constrain the linear combinations of Lorentz boost symmetry violation parameters c((TX))=(3.1±1.9)×10(-11) and 0.92c((TY))+0.40c((TZ))=(2.6±5.3)×10(-11) in the standard model extension framework [D. Colladay, V. A. Kostelecký, Phys. Rev. D. 58, 116002 (1998)].

Phase-coherent frequency comparison of optical clocks using a telecommunication fiber link.

We have explored the performance of 2 "dark fibers" of a commercial telecommunication fiber link for a remote comparison of optical clocks. These fibers establish a network in Germany that will eventually link optical frequency standards at PTB with those at the Institute of Quantum Optics (IQ) at the Leibniz University of Hanover, and the Max Planck Institutes in Erlangen (MPL) and Garching (MPQ). We demonstrate for the first time that within several minutes a phase coherent comparison of clock lasers at the few 10(-15) level can also be accomplished when the lasers are more than 100 km apart. Based on the performance of the fiber link to the IQ, we estimate the expected stability for the link from PTB to MPQ via MPL that bridges a distance of approximately 900 km.