Ultralow-noise mode-locked laser with coupled optoelectronic oscillator configuration

We describe simultaneous generation of ultralow-noise optical pulses and microwave signal with a mode-locked fiber laser in a coupled optoelectronic oscillator configuration. We demonstrate 9.2-GHz optical and microwave signals with the measured phase noise of −140 dBc∕Hz at 10-kHz offset frequency. We show that the mode-locked laser in the photonic oscillator serves as a high-Q filter and is responsible for the observed low phase noise.