MLL-based Integrated THz Frequency Synthesizers (MINTS)

在项目中，MINTS计划研究和演示符合硅光子学（SiPh）和/或亚磷酸铟（InP）光子技术集成要求的电子光子太赫兹频率合成器架构。基于锁模激光器（MLL）的优异光谱特性，其目标是实现抖动rsp。相位噪声性能比任何纯电子THz频率合成器好至少一个数量级，同时实现类似或更好的频率范围和可比较的频率分辨率。电子-光子太赫兹合成器的相位噪声性能的改善是通过锁定电子振荡器rsp来实现的。激光二极管上的MLL信号，这取决于合成器架构。我们将研究不同的MLL为基础的太赫兹频率合成器的架构，实验和分析。提出了新的调谐技术，以实现连续的频率调谐。InP和SiPh技术的集成实现的影响将进行分析和实验研究。我们的研究将集中在合成器架构的研究和InP和硅光子集成电路（PIC）技术的实现。由于MLL本身的集成不是拟议项目的重点，我们将利用Menhir Photonics和门洛系统公司的商业超低抖动MLL进行合成器实验。与其他团队正在进行的集成MLL研究一起，MINTS项目将为InP和SiPh技术的紧凑型集成THz频率合成器铺平道路，具有极低的相位噪声。

In the project MINTS it is planned to investigate and demonstrate electronic-photonic THz frequency synthesizer architectures which conform to the requirements of integration in silicon photonics (SiPh) and/or Indium Phosphite (InP) photonic technology. Building on the excellent spectral properties of mode-locked lasers (MLL) it is the target to achieve a jitter rsp. phase noise performance of at least one order of magnitude better than any purely electronic THz frequency synthesizer while achieving a similar or better frequency range and comparable frequency resolution. The improvement in phase noise performance of the electronic-photonic THz synthesizers is achieved by locking electronic oscillators rsp. laser diodes onto the MLL signal, depending on the synthesizer architecture. We will investigate different MLL-based THz frequency synthesizer architectures both experimentally and analytically. Novel tuning techniques are proposed to achieve continuous frequency tuning. Effects of an integrated realization in InP and SiPh technologies will be studied analytically and experimentally. Our research will focus on synthesizer architecture studies and implementations in InP and silicon Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) technology. Since integration of the MLL itself is not in the focus of the proposed project, we will make use of commercial ultra-low-jitter MLLs from Menhir Photonics and Menlo Systems for synthesizer experiments. Together with ongoing research of other groups on integrated MLLs the project MINTS will pave the way for compact integrated THz frequency synthesizers in InP and SiPh technology with exceptionally low phase noise.