Tuesday 24 June 2025
Scientists have developed a new technique for reducing noise in microwave tones, which could have significant implications for a range of applications including precision clocks and quantum computing.
Noise is an inherent problem in many experimental systems that rely on coherent tones to manipulate mechanical resonators. This noise can limit the sensitivity of experiments and cause heating in sensitive components. In recent years, researchers have made progress in reducing carrier noise using phase noise cancellation techniques. However, these methods are only effective when amplitude noise dominates.
The new technique, developed by a team at Aalto University in Finland, uses feedback cancellation to reduce amplitude noise from microwave generators. The method relies on a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) to reproduce the noise with a tunable gain and time delay. This allows for destructive interference when combined with the original tone.
The researchers tested their technique by reducing the noise power of a 4 GHz microwave tone by 13 dB at an offset of 2 MHz. They also used the method in a microwave optomechanics experiment to investigate the effect of generator noise on the sideband cooling of a silicon nitride membrane resonator. The results showed that with the technique, the rate of externally induced cavity heating was reduced by a factor of three and a half, and the minimum oscillator occupation was lowered by a factor of two.
The team’s approach has broad implications for noise cancellation techniques in microwave systems, where amplitude noise is becoming an increasingly important consideration as phase noise performances improve. The method could be used to improve the sensitivity and stability of precision clocks, which rely on coherent tones to maintain their accuracy.
In addition, the technique could have significant applications in quantum computing, where noise can quickly destroy delicate quantum states. By reducing noise levels, researchers may be able to extend the coherence times of quantum systems and improve the fidelity of quantum computations.
The development of this new technique is a major step forward in the quest to reduce noise in microwave tones. As researchers continue to push the boundaries of precision and sensitivity in their experiments, techniques like this will become increasingly important for achieving reliable results.
Cite this article: “Silencing the Noise: A New Technique for Reducing Amplitude Noise in Microwave Tones”, The Science Archive, 2025.
Microwave Tones, Noise Reduction, Precision Clocks, Quantum Computing, Amplitude Noise, Phase Noise Cancellation, Feedback Cancellation, Fpga, Microwave Optomechanics, Silicon Nitride Membrane Resonator.
