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What is Phase Noise?
Phase noise describes the short-term, random fluctuations in the phase of an optical or electrical signal around its ideal phase evolution. In laser systems, phase noise is closely related to fluctuations in the instantaneous optical frequency and is an important parameter for evaluating frequency stability, coherence, and signal quality.
Low phase noise is essential for applications requiring highly stable optical signals, including quantum technologies, optical clocks, coherent communications, interferometry, and precision metrology.
HOW Phase Noise Works
Phase noise results from small, unwanted variations in the phase of a signal over time, caused by intrinsic noise and environmental disturbances. In optical systems, these fluctuations can affect the coherence and frequency stability of the laser.
Signal generation
An optical source generates a signal with a defined nominal frequency and phase.
Phase fluctuations
Noise sources such as spontaneous emission, mechanical vibrations, temperature variations, or electronic noise introduce small deviations from the ideal phase.
Impact on coherence
These phase fluctuations produce frequency instability and can broaden the effective optical linewidth, reducing coherence and potentially degrading system performance.
