Dual-fiber wavelength-tuned photonic-delay phase-noise measurement

Lavrič, Andrej (author), Vidmar, Matjaž (author), Batagelj, Boštjan (author)

The development of microwave photonics has revitalized the field of microwave measurements where, among other factors, the need to characterize phase noise is essential for the development of oscillators. Optical fiber, with its low losses and its ability to implement long time delays, attracted attention to the delay-line method for phase-noise measurements. However, for correct operation, an accurate adjustment of the phase and/or delay is required. We address this issue by utilizing the chromatic dispersion of the optical fiber to implement the wavelength-tuned time delay. A novel, dual-fiber, wavelength-tuned, photonic-delay solution for the measurement of phase noise is proposed, which extends the phase-tuning range and enables self-adjustment. The proposed approach is experimentally demonstrated and validated by measuring 10-GHz microwave oscillators. The noise floors achieved during the experiment were −117 dBc/Hz and −136 dBc/Hz at 1 kHz and 10 kHz, respectively.

• Language: English
• Keywords: microwave photonics, phase-noise measurement, delay-line method, photonic delay, chromatic dispersion, phase shift, wavelength-tuned time delay, microwave measurement, microwave theory and techniques, microwave oscillators, phase measurement, optical fibers, microwave filters, optical fiber dispersion, microwave amplifiers, delays
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FE - Faculty of Electrical Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: Str. 404–412
• Numbering: Vol. 44, no. 2
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-177913
• UDC: 621.39
• ISSN on article: 1558-2213
• DOI: 10.1109/JLT.2025.3538128
• COBISS.SI-ID: 236931075
• Publication date in RUL: 13.01.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Journal of lightwave technology
• Shortened title: J. lightwave technol.
• Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• ISSN: 1558-2213
• COBISS.SI-ID: 10568276

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: mikrovalovna fotonika, merjenje faznega šuma, postopek s kasnilnim vodom, optična zakasnitev, barvna razpršitev, fazni zasuk, valovnodolžinsko uglaševanje časovne zakasnitve