Generation of Widely Tunable Stable RF Tone/Carrier in X-Band and Ku-Band Using Optical Phase Locked Loop

In this paper, we discuss the generation of RF carrier in X-Band and Ku band frequencies by heterodyning two independent lasers that are optically phase locked using a lock-in amplifier. The RF carrier generated in the X-band has a phase noise of − 74.3 dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset frequency. The phase locked loop is demonstrated to have a lock in range of 17 MHz with RF tone stability of the order of 0.1 ppm, across the X-Band. The design is extended to demonstrate the generation of RF at Ku band frequency and with no degradation in the performance with frequency scaling. Remote generation of RF, where the slave laser is at a distance 25 km away from the master, is also demonstrated experimentally through the same locking mechanism and without any phase noise degradation compared to local frequency generation.