60 Gbps real-time wireless communications at 300 GHz carrier using a Kerr microcomb-based source
Brendan M. Heffernan, Yuma Kawamoto, Keisuke Maekawa, J. M. Greenberg, Rubab Amin, Takashi Hori, Tatsuya Tanigawa, Tadao Nagatsuma, Antoine Rolland
Abstract
Future wireless communication infrastructure will rely on terahertz systems that can support an increasing demand for large-bandwidth, ultra-fast wireless data transfer. In order to satisfy this demand, compact, low-power, and low noise sources of terahertz radiation are being developed. A promising route to achieving this goal is combining photonic-integrated optical frequency combs with fast photodiodes for difference frequency generation in the THz. Here, we demonstrate wireless communications using a 300 GHz carrier wave generated via photomixing of two optical tones originating from diode lasers that are injection locked to a dissipative Kerr soliton frequency microcomb. We achieve transfer rates of 80 Gbps using homodyne detection and 60 Gbps transmitting simultaneously both data and clock signals in a dual-path wireless link. This experimental demonstration paves a path toward low-noise and integrated photonic millimeter-wave transceivers for future wireless communication systems.