Fully digital platform for local ultra-stable optical frequency distribution

This article reports on the use of a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) platform for local ultra-stable optical frequency distribution through a 90 m-long fiber network. This platform is used to implement a fully digital treatment of the Doppler-cancellation scheme required by fiber links to be able to distribute ultra-stable frequencies. We present a novel protocol that uses aliased images of a digital synthesizer output to directly generate signals above the Nyquist frequency. This approach significantly simplifies the setup, making it easy to duplicate within a local fiber network. We demonstrate performances enabling the distribution of an optical signal with an instability below 10(-17) at 1 s at the receiver end. We also use the board to implement an original characterization method. It leads to an efficient characterization of the disturbance rejection of the system that can be realized without accessing the remote output of the fiber link.

Automated summary

This article discusses the use of an FPGA platform for local ultra-stable optical frequency distribution in a fiber network. A novel protocol is presented that simplifies the setup and enables the distribution of ultra-stable frequencies. The performances of the system are demonstrated, showing an instability below 10(-17) at 1 s at the receiver end.