A chip-based optoelectronic-oscillator frequency comb

Jinbao Long; Zhongkai Wang; Huanfa Peng; Wei Sun; Dengke Chen; Shichang Li; Shuyi Li; Yi-Han Luo; Jijun He; Lan Gao; Baoqi Shi; Chen Shen; Linze Li; Tianyu Long; Baile Chen; Zhenyu Li; Junqiu Liu

doi:10.1186/s43593-025-00094-w

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A chip-based optoelectronic-oscillator frequency comb

eLight Vol. 5, (2025)

Research Article | Updated：2025-07-29

- A chip-based optoelectronic-oscillator frequency comb
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- Author bio：
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- DOI：10.1186/s43593-025-00094-w
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- Received：22 January 2025，
  
  Revised：01 June 2025，
  
  Accepted：14 June 2025，
  
  Published Online：22 July 2025，
  
  Published：2025-12
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Jinbao Long, Zhongkai Wang, Huanfa Peng, et al. A chip-based optoelectronic-oscillator frequency comb[J]. Elight, 2025, 5.
DOI：

Jinbao Long, Zhongkai Wang, Huanfa Peng, et al. A chip-based optoelectronic-oscillator frequency comb[J]. Elight, 2025, 5. DOI： 10.1186/s43593-025-00094-w.

摘要

Abstract

Microresonator-based Kerr frequency combs (“Kerr microcombs”) constitute chip-scale frequency combs of broad spectral bandwidth and repetition rate ranging from gigahertz to terahertz. A cri

tical application that exploits the coherence and high repetition rate of microcombs is microwave and millimeter-wave generation. Latest endeavor applying two-point optical frequency division (OFD) to photonic-chip-based microcombs has created microwaves with remarkably low phase noise. Nevertheless

existing approaches to achieve exceptionally coherent microcombs still require extensive active locking

additional lasers

and external RF or microwave sources

as well as sophisticated initiation. Here we demonstrate a simple and entirely passive (no active locking) architecture

which incorporates an optoelectronic oscillator (OEO) and symphonizes a coherent microcomb and a low-noise microwave spontaneously. Our OEO microcomb leverages state-of-the-art integrated chip devices

including a high-power DFB laser

a broadband silicon Mach–Zehnder modulator

an ultralow-loss silicon nitride microresonator

and a high-speed photodetector. Each can be manufactured in large volume with low cost and high yield using established CMOS and III-V foundries. Our system synergizes a microcomb of 10.7 GHz repetition rate and an X-band microwave with phase noise of − 97/

−

126/

−

130 dBc/Hz at 1/10/100 kHz Fourier frequency offset

yet does not demand active locking

additional lasers

and external RF or microwave sources. With potential to be fully integrated

our OEO microcomb can become an invaluable technology and building block for microwave photonics

radio-over-fiber

and optical communication.

关键词

Keywords

references

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