Low-noise synthesis of microwave and millimetre-wave signals with optical frequency comb generator

The phase noise of a 20 GHz picosecond optical pulse train generated by a modulator-based optical frequency comb generator is analysed. The residual timing jitter is <= 10 fs for Fourier frequencies from 10 Hz to 10 MHz. Photodetection of the optical pulse train provides millimetre-wave signals with similarly low residual jitter at 40, 60, and 80 GHz with applicable powers of -7.5, -10.5, and -13 dBm, respectively.