Preprint

PUBDB-2025-04371

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Attosecond-level synchronisation of chip-integrated oscillators

Ulanov, A.CFEL*DESY* ; Ruhnke, B.CFEL*Extern*DESY* ; Wildi, T.CFEL*DESY* ; Herr, T. (Corresponding author)CFEL*DESY*

2025

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.3204/PUBDB-2025-04371

Report No.: arXiv:2510.11630

Abstract: Attosecond science provides a window to the fastest processes in chemistry, materials science, and biology. Accessing this time scale requires precisely synchronised oscillators. In free-electron X-ray lasers, which also provide sub-atomic resolution, synchronisation must be achieved across hundreds of meters. Current approaches to synchronisation based on mode-locked lasers deliver this level of performance but complexity, cost and size hinder their deployment in facility-wide multi-node networks.Here, we demonstrate attosecond-level synchronisation of two chip-integrated photonic oscillators (microcombs) separated by 100~m of fibre. A pair of continuous-wave lasers establishes a time reference that is delivered over fibre, and on-chip Kerr-nonlinear synchronisation results in an integrated relative timing jitter of the microcombs below 400~as (1~kHz to 1~MHz), without any active stabilisation. These results unlock precision timing at scale for large facilities and next-generation technologies such as disaggregated computing and quantum networks, and ultimately may lead to chip-integrated attosecond photonics.

Note: 8 pages, 3 figures

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. FS-CFEL-2-UMP (FS-CFEL-2-UMP)

Research Program(s):

1. 631 - Matter – Dynamics, Mechanisms and Control (POF4-631) (POF4-631)
2. VH-NG-1404 - Ultra-fast nonlinear microphotonics (2019_VH-NG-1404) (2019_VH-NG-1404)
3. STARCHIP - Microphotonics-based frequency combs for habitable exoplanet detection (853564) (853564)
4. M-Engine - Microcomb Photonic Engine (101137000) (101137000)

Experiment(s):

1. Experiments at CFEL

Appears in the scientific report 2025

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Database coverage:
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