Self-oscillating optical frequency comb generator based on an optoelectronic oscillator employing cascaded modulators.

An ultraflat self-oscillating optical frequency comb generator based on an optoelectronic oscillator employing cascaded modulators was proposed and experimentally demonstrated. By incorporating the optoelectronic oscillation loop with cascaded modulators into the optical frequency comb generator, 11 ultraflat comb lines would be generated, and the frequency spacing is equal to the oscillation frequency of the OEO. 10 and 12GHz optical frequency combs are demonstrated with the spectral power variation below 0.82dB and 0.93dB respectively. The corresponding spectral pure microwave source are also generated and evaluated. The corresponding single-sideband phase noise are as low as -122dBc/Hz and -115 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz offset frequency.

Long-term stability improvement of tunable optoelectronic oscillator using dynamic feedback compensation.

We propose and demonstrate a novel method to improve the long-term stability of the wideband tunable optoelectronic oscillator (OEO) where a dynamic compensation scheme is achieved to offset the parameter variation of the fiber. In our method, a 900 MHz calibration signal transmits in the fiber link of the OEO's feedback loop for establishing a servo system which can extract the time delay of the feedback loop. The time delay varies with the external environment because refractive index and length of the fiber fluctuate with ambient temperature variations. Taking the extracted information as the reference, the wavelength of the tunable laser used in the OEO can be controlled precisely and continually to offset the random delay fluctuation in the fiber. Consequently, the long-term stability of the microwave signal generated by the OEO can be optimized. The experiment results show that Allan deviation achieved in 1000-s averaging time is improved more than two orders of magnitude when the tunable OEO worked at 2.4 GHz.

Bidirectional multiband radio-over-fiber system based on polarization multiplexing and wavelength reuse.

A polarization multiplexing technique based on phase-shift-induced polarization modulation-to-intensity modulation (PloM-to-IM) convertor and a Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) is proposed to generate multi-band signals. Successful transmission of the traditional radio frequency, microwave (MW) and millimeter wave (MMW) signals is simultaneously achieved. Meanwhile, the intensity-constant optical carrier (OC) is reused for upstream 25-km transmission.

Stable fiber-optic time transfer by active radio frequency phase locking.

In this Letter we demonstrate a fiber link capable of stable time signal transfer utilizing our active long-distance radio frequency (RF) stabilization technology. Taking advantage of the chromatic dispersion in optical fiber, our scheme compensates dynamically the link delay variation by tuning the optical carrier wavelength to phase lock a round-trip RF reference. Since the time signal and the RF reference are carried by the same optical carrier, a highly stable time transfer is achieved at the same time. Experimentally, we demonstrate a stability of the time signal transfer over 50-km fiber with a time deviation of 40 ps at 1-s average and 2.3 ps at 1000-s average. The performance of the RF reference delivery is also tested, with an Allan deviation of 2×10(-15) at 1000-s average. According to our proposal, a simultaneous stable time and frequency transfer is expected.

Stable radio frequency phase delivery by rapid and endless post error cancellation.

We propose and demonstrate a phase stabilization method for transfer and downconvert radio frequency (RF) signal from remote antenna to center station via a radio-over-fiber (ROF) link. Different from previous phase-locking-loop-based schemes, we post-correct any phase fluctuation by mixing during the downconversion process at the center station. A rapid and endless operation is predicted. The ROF technique transfers the received RF signal directly, which will reduce the electronic complexity at the antenna end. The proposed scheme is experimentally demonstrated, with a phase fluctuation compression factor of about 200. The theory and performance are also discussed.

Atypical cortical connectivity and visuospatial cognitive impairments are related in children with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome is one of the most common genetic causes of cognitive impairment and developmental disability yet little is known about the neural bases of those challenges. Here we expand upon our previous neurocognitive studies by specifically investigating the hypothesis that changes in neural connectivity relate to cognitive impairment in children with the disorder. METHODS: Whole brain analyses of multiple measures computed from diffusion tensor image data acquired from the brains of children with the disorder and typically developing controls. We also correlated diffusion tensor data with performance on a visuospatial cognitive task that taps spatial attention. RESULTS: Analyses revealed four common clusters, in the parietal and frontal lobes, that showed complementary patterns of connectivity in children with the deletion and typical controls. We interpreted these results as indicating differences in connective complexity to adjoining cortical regions that are critical to the cognitive functions in which affected children show impairments. Strong, and similarly opposing patterns of correlations between diffusion values in those clusters and spatial attention performance measures considerably strengthened that interpretation. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that atypical development of connective patterns in the brains of children with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome indicate a neuropathology that is related to the visuospatial cognitive impairments that are commonly found in affected individuals.

Hippocampal volume reduction in children with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome is associated with cognitive impairment.

BACKGROUND: Previous investigations of individuals with chromosome 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (DS22q11.2) have reported alterations in both brain anatomy and cognitive function. Neuroanatomical studies have reported multiple abnormalities including changes in both gray and white matter in the temporal lobe, including the amygdala and hippocampus. Separate investigations of cognitive abilities have established the prevalence of general intellectual impairment, although the actual extent to which a single individual is affected varies greatly within the population. The present study was designed to examine structures within the temporal lobe and assess their functional significance in terms of cognition in children with DS22q11.2. METHOD: A total of 72 children (ages 7-14 years) participated in the investigation: 36 children (19 female, 17 male) tested FISH positive for chromosome 22q11.2 deletion (Mean age = 10 years 9 months, +/- 2 yr 4 mo) and 36 were age-matched typically developing controls (13 female, 23 male; Mean age = 10 years 6 months, +/- 1 yr 11 mo). For each subject, a three-dimensional high-resolution (1 mm isotropic) T1-weighted structural MRI was acquired. Neuroanatomical guidelines were used to define borders of the amygdala and hippocampus bilaterally and volumes were calculated based on manual tracings of the regions. The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) was also administered. RESULTS: Volumetric reductions in total gray matter, white matter, and both the amygdala and hippocampus bilaterally were observed in children with DS22q11.2. Reductions in the left hippocampus were disproportionate to decreases in gray matter after statistically controlling for group differences in total gray matter, age, and data collection site. This specific reduction in hippocampal volume was significantly correlated with performance on standardized measures of intelligence, whereas the other neuroanatomical measures were not (gray/white matter, CSF, and amygdala). CONCLUSION: Results from this study not only contribute to the understanding of the neuroanatomical variation in DS22q11.2, but also provide insight into the nature and source of the cognitive impairments associated with the syndrome. Specifically, we report that decreases in hippocampal volume may serve as an index of severity for cognitive impairments in children with DS22q11.2.