Microwave generation using a dual-helicoidally-polarized ceramic microchip laser

Abstract

A microwave source based on a two-frequency highly-doped ceramic microchip laser is presented in this paper. Tuning bandwidths of the microwave beat-note signal are shown that approaches the gain bandwidth of the laser medium (80-100 GHz). Beat-note frequency stability of ap 10-6 over hour-long periods and quantum-noise-limited intensity noise scales well with increased tuning ranges and microchip arrangements for dual-helicoidally-polarized lasers. These simple, yet widely-tunable, stable photonic-based microwave sources are elegant devices for portable, frequency reference applications.