Low-phase noise photonic millimeter-wave generator using an AWG integrated with a 3-dB combiner

We present a low-phase-noise and frequency-tunable photonic millimeter-wave (MMW) generator based on two-mode beating. The generator consists of a single-mode laser, an external optical intensity modulator, and a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) on which an arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG) and 3-dB optical combiners are integrated. Because the AWG and the optical combiners are connected with optical waveguides and the optical path length difference between the two modes filtered by the AWG is kept constant, the phase fluctuation of the generated MMW signal is suppressed. The generator can generate MMWs with a phase noise of less than -75 dBc/Hz at 100 Hz and has a frequency tunability in a range of 90 to 125 GHz. The generator can be applied for the local oscillator (LO) in 10-Gbit/s wireless links that use heterodyne detection.