Photonic-based microwave generator and associated methods

A photonic-based microwave generator, comprising:

• an optical modulator configured to modulate an optical power of thean optical pulse train;
• a microwave photodiode configured to convert the optical pulse train into an electronic microwave signal;
• and
• a servo amplifier configured to process an output of the microwave photodiode into a servo signal;
• wherein the microwave photodiode, optical modulator, and servo amplifier cooperate, when the servo signal drives the optical modulator, to suppress amplitude noise of the electronic microwave signal.

A method for photonic-based microwave generation, comprising:

• generating an optical pulse train with a mode-locked laser;
• and
• suppressing relative intensity noise of the optical pulse train by:
• detecting, with a feedback photodiode, at least a portion of the optical pulse train to generate an error signal indicating relative intensity noise of the optical pulse train;
• processing the error signal into a servo signal;
• and
• controlling intracavity power of the mode-locked laser with the servo signal;
• wherein timing jitter of the optical pulse train is reduced in response to the suppressed relative intensity noise.