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Abstract:
Spectrally pure microwave sources are highly desired for several
applications, ranging from wireless communication to next generation
radar technology and metrology. Additionally, to generate very pure
signals at even higher frequencies, these advanced microwave sources
have to be compact, low in weight, and low energy consumption to comply
with in-field applications. A hybrid optical and electronic cavity,
known as an optoelectronic oscillator (OEO), has the potential to
leverage the high bandwidth of optics to generate ultrapure
high-frequency microwave signals. Here we present a widely tunable, low
phase noise microwave source based on a photonic chip. Using on-chip
stimulated Brillouin scattering as a narrow-band active filter allows
single-mode OEO operation and ultrawide frequency tunability with no
signal degeneration. Furthermore, we show very low close-to-carrier
phase noise. This Letter paves the way to a compact, fully integrated
pure microwave source. (C) 2016 Optical Society of America