Narrow-linewidth microwave generation using AlGaInAs/InP microdisk lasers subject to optical injection and optoelectronic feedback.

Narrow-linewidth and low phase noise photonic microwave generation under sideband-injection locking are demonstrated using an 8-μm-radius AlGaInAs/InP microdisk laser subject to optical injection and optoelectronic feedback. Microdisk laser subject to external optical injection at the period-one state provides the microwave subcarrier seed signal, and the optoelectronic feedback serves as direct current modulation to stabilize and lock the generated microwave signal without using the electrical filter. High-quality photonic microwave signals are realized with the 3-dB linewidth of less than 1 kHz and the frequency tunable range from 8.8 to 17 GHz. Single sideband phase noise of -101 dBc/Hz is obtained at a frequency offset of 10 kHz for the generated 14.7 GHz signal. Furthermore, the dependences of photonic microwave signal on the optical injection and optoelectronic feedback parameters are investigated.