UMS-Mini
(Ultrastable Microwave System)
Compact Photonic Microwave Source with Record-low Phase Noise and Microhertz Linewidth
Photonic microwave technology represents a paradigm shift in microwave signal synthesis.
Introducing Menlo Systems’ Ultrastable Microwave Systems, we present a groundbreaking advancement in microwave technology, for the synthesis of microhertz-level linewidth signals.
Currently, the most established technology for the synthesis of stable microwave signals is based on up-multiplication of RF signals from oven-controlled crystal oscillators (OCXOs).
This method leads to unavoidable and detrimental quadratic upscaling of phase noise.
Our systems are the first commercially available photonic microwave sources that utilize the phase-coherent division of high-fidelity optical signals into the microwave domain.
By employing this innovative approach, we can drastically reduce optical phase noise to levels that were previously considered physically impossible with multiplied OCXOs or room-temperature Sapphire oscillators.
The UMS-Mini is the microwave frequency source with the lowest phase noise on the market.
In a compact 200-liter volume, the rack mountable system can be configured to provide multiple output frequencies from the RF to up to 20 GHz (higher on custom request). It includes a fully autonomous ultra-stable laser and a frequency comb.
The system is the result of years of fine engineering.
Features
- Compact and complete solution comprising an ultrastable laser and an optical frequency comb
- Fully remotely controllable
- Lowest phase noise on the market in this form factor
- Optional 1 PPS, 10/100 MHz outputs
Key Specifications
- Up to four phase-coherent RF and Microwave frequency outputs: 10/100 MHz, 1-20 GHz with guaranteed spectral purity
- Phase noise as low as <-80 dBc/Hz at 1 Hz, -160 dBc/Hz at ≥10 kHz from a 10 GHz carrier
- Frequency instability (for X-Band signals) as low as <5E-15 at 1 s, <5E-11 (50 ppt) at 1 day (without drift-removal)
- De-drift option available (to hand over GPS or other reference)
- Class 1 Laser System (depending on configuration)
Applications
- Atomic Clocks / Time-scale realization
- RF over fiber
- Quantum Computing
- Radar Local Oscillator
- Test & Measurements
- OCXOs/Oscillators calibration/measurements
- Telecom 5G/6G
Specifications
Phase Noise (absolute*, dBc Hz⁻¹)
| 10 MHz | 100 MHz | 10 GHz | |
| Offset frequency (Hz) | |||
| 1 | -135 | -125 | -80 |
| 10 | -145 | -135 | -100 |
| 100 | -155 | -145 | -120 |
| 1k | -165 | -150 | -140 |
| 10k | -165 | -155 | -160 |
| 100k | <-165 | -155 | <-160 |
| 1M | <-165 | -155 | <-160 |
Fractional frequency stability (absolute*)
| 10 MHz | 100 MHz | 10 GHz | |
| Averaging time (s) | |||
| 0.1 | <5E-14 | <5E-14 | <5E-15 |
| 1 | <5E-14 | <5E-14 | <5E-15 |
| 10 | <1E-13 | <1E-13 | <2E-14 |
| 100 | <5E-13 | <5E-13 | <2E-13 |
| 1000 | <5E-12 | <5E-12 | <2E-12 |
| >10000 | <5E-11 | <5E-11 | <2E-11 |
System can be equipped with GPS receiver for long-term steering. De-drift function can be configured for handover at the appropriate time to a more stable reference.
*Inquire for residual.
Outputs
| 1/100 MHz | Microwave | |
| Level, 50 Ω | >7 dBm | >-5 dBm |
| Isolation | >70 dB | >80 dB |
| Spurius | <-90 dBc | <-70 dBc |
Power / Environmental Requirements
| Operating Voltage | 100/115/230 VAC |
| Line Frequency | 50 to 60 Hz |
| Operating Temperature | 22 ± 5 °C |
| Power Consumption | <200 W |
Menlo Systems 홈페이지
