Low noise photonic millimeter-wave generation using an integrated reciprocating optical modulator

We generated low-phase-noise millimeter waves by using a reciprocating optical modulator. A lightwave modulated by a 44-GHz millimeter wave was obtained from a microwave signal, with a phase noise of -88.5 dBc/Hz at an offset of 10 kHz. The intensity of the millimeter waves generated was quite stable, and the linewidth was less than 1 Hz. The noise figure obtained in our reciprocating modulation process was lower than the theoretical limit for conventional frequency multipliers.