All-optical frequency division on-chip using a single laser. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38467896/)

These scientists wanted to find a better way to create really pure microwave signals, which are important for many things like measuring time and sending signals for communication. Right now, the way we make these signals is bulky and uses a lot of energy. So, the scientists came up with a new idea to use something called optical frequency combs to make these signals in a more compact and efficient way.

They used tiny devices called Kerr microresonators that are like small circles that can trap light. By shining laser light into these microresonators, the scientists were able to create very stable microwave signals. They did this by making the light bounce around inside the microresonators in a special way.

The scientists were able to synchronize two different states of these microresonators to create really high-quality microwave signals. They were able to do this without needing to use a lot of extra equipment to stabilize the signals. This new method allowed them to reduce the noise in the signals, making them very pure and clear.

Overall, the scientists found a simpler and more effective way to create these microwave signals using tiny devices on a chip. This could lead to smaller devices that can make very pure signals, just like the ones made in big laboratories.

Zhao Y., Jang JK., Beals GJ., McNulty KJ., Ji X., Okawachi Y., Lipson M., Gaeta AL. All-optical frequency division on-chip using a single laser. Nature. 2024 Mar 11. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07136-2.