Optical frequency division via optical frequency combs has enabled a leap in microwave metrology, leading to noise performance never explored before. Extending this method to the millimetre-wave and terahertz-wave domains is of great interest. Dissipative Kerr solitons in integrated photonic chips offer the unique feature of delivering optical frequency combs with ultrahigh repetition rates from 10 GHz to 1 THz, making them relevant gears for performing optical frequency division in the millimetre-wave and terahertz-wave domains. We experimentally demonstrate the optical frequency division of an optically carried 3.6 THz reference down to 300 GHz through a dissipative Kerr soliton, photodetected with an ultrafast uni-travelling-carrier photodiode. A new measurement system, based on the characterization of a microwave reference phase locked to the 300 GHz signal under test, yields attosecond-level timing-noise sensitivity, overcoming conventional technical limitations. This work places dissipative Kerr solitons as a leading technology in the millimetre-wave and terahertz-wave field, promising breakthroughs in fundamental and civilian applications.

通过光频梳进行光分频，使微波计量实现了飞跃，带来了前所未有的噪声性能。将这种方法扩展到毫米波和太赫兹波域是非常有趣的。集成光子芯片中的耗散克尔孤子具有提供从 10 GHz 到 1 THz 的超高重复率的光学频率梳的独特功能，使其成为在毫米波和太赫兹波域中执行光学分频的相关设备。我们通过耗散克尔孤子实验证明了光学承载的 3.6 THz 参考的光学分频到 300 GHz，用超快单行载波光电二极管进行光电检测。全新的测量系统，基于锁定到被测 300 GHz 信号的微波参考相位的特性，产生阿秒级的定时噪声灵敏度，克服了传统的技术限制。这项工作将耗散克尔孤子作为毫米波和太赫兹波领域的领先技术，有望在基础和民用应用中取得突破。