Optical comb mode number determination method for accurate frequency 300 GHz millimeter-wave generation

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 22K20439
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: 0302:Electrical and electronic engineering and related fields
• Research Institution: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
• Principal Investigator: Nakajima Yuki 国立研究開発法人産業技術総合研究所, 計量標準総合センター, 研究員 (60965424)
• Project Period (FY): 2022-08-31 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: SIトレーサブル / 光周波数コム / ミリ波

Outline of Final Research Achievements

By phase-locking two CW lasers with an optical comb synchronized to UTC, an accurate millimeter-wave band frequency can be synthesized in the form of a difference frequency. To determine the millimeter-wave band frequency, it is necessary to determine the mode number difference between the two comb modes which interfer CW lasers. This research aims to determine the mode number difference more easily than before by modulating the repetition frequency of the optical comb and measuring the modulation depth of the beat frequency of the optical comb and laser. In this study, the measurement accuracy of the modulation depth was verified, and a value close to the accuracy required for mode number difference determination was obtained.

Free Research Field

量子エレクトロニクス

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

ミリ波・テラヘルツ波は、次世代移動通信に代表されるさまざまな分野への応用が期待されており、実用化にはUTCに基づいた正確な周波数合成が重要である。光コムを用いて周波数を合成する場合、従来は波長計等の高価な装置を用いた測定を元にミリ波帯・テラヘルツ帯周波数を決定する必要があり、その手順は複雑であった。本手法は周波数の決定にそうした補助測定を必要としないため、幅広い分野への寄与が期待される。