Buffer reservoir approach for cancelling resonant noise: Towards a new generation of low noise lasers

K. Audo (1) , A. E. Amili (1) , M. Alouini (1)

1 IPR - Institut de Physique de Rennes

Buffer Reservoir approach is proposed and explored in order to deeply modify the dynamical behavior of solid-state lasers leading to a cancelation of resonant noise. The relaxation oscillation noise is reduced by more than 50 dB in a single frequency laser, whereas in-phase and anti-phase noise contributions are simultaneously reduced by more than 20 dB in a dual frequency laser. This approach is implemented using both second harmonic generation and two-photon absorption. Moreover, the optical linewidth of the laser is shown to be preserved in spite of the modification of the laser dynamics. Owing to the efficiency and potentially unlimited bandwidth of this method, the spontaneous/signal beating peaks are also cancelled which makes it superior to the previously proposed class-A laser operation. This new generation of solid-state lasers is successfully tested in a microwave photonics link for local oscillator distribution.

Keywords: antiphase noise contributions; buffer reservoir approach; Cavity resonators; dual frequency laser; in-phase noise contributions; Laser modes; laser noise; light absorption; local oscillator distribution; low noise laser generation; Masers; Microwave photonics; microwave photonics link; Noise cancellation; optical harmonic generation; optical linewidth; phase noise; photonics; relaxation oscillation noise reduction; Reservoirs; resonant noise cancelation; second harmonic generation; signal beating peaks; single frequency laser; Solid laser; solid lasers; solid-state lasers; spectral line breadth; spontaneous beating peaks; Two-Photon Absorption; two-photon processes

Domains: Physics [physics]

K. Audo, A. E. Amili, M. Alouini. Buffer reservoir approach for cancelling resonant noise: Towards a new generation of low noise lasers. 2016 IEEE International Topical Meeting on Microwave Photonics (MWP), 2016, Long Beach, United States. pp.332-335, ⟨10.1109/MWP.2016.7791273⟩. ⟨hal-01484635⟩