UMS-Compact
Ultrastable Microwave System

A P P L I C AT I O N S■ Atomic Clocks / Optical and Microwave
Time-scale Realization■ Very Large Baseline Interferometry (VLBIs)■ Fiber-link Networks■ Quantum Computing■ Test & Measurements■ OCXOs / Oscillators Calibration / Measurements■ Telecom 5G/6G
F E AT U R E S■ Complete robust solution, comprising an

10 1260

UMS-Mini
UMS-Compact
State-of-the-art
upscaled OCXO

80100120

10 13

UMS-Mini 10 GHz
UMS-Compact 10 GHz
UMS-Mini Optical@ 194.4 THz - Drifting
UMS-Compact Optical@ 194.4 THz - Drifting

10 14140160

Fractional Frequency Stability ( )SSB phase noise PSD [dBc/Hz]

Ultrastable Microwave System: photonic microwave technology representing a paradigm
shift in microwave signal synthesis. This groundbreaking advancement is the firstcommercially-available photonic microwave source that utilizes the phase-coherent
division of high-fidelity optical signals into the microwave domain. By employing thisinnovative approach, we can drastically reduce optical phase noise to levels that werepreviously physically impossible with more established technologies like multiplied OCXOs
or room-temperature Sapphire oscillators.
The UMS-Compact is the bigger brother of the UMS-Mini. It also includes a fully autonomous
ultrastable laser and a frequency comb, in a robust custom-designed rack-system to be
operated in telecom cabinets, radar and radio-astronomy domes. It allows for the additionof customizable extensions for multiple frequency outputs, both in RF/Microwave or forcomb-line synthesis at specific optical frequencies. The UMS-Compact can be further
synchronized, on request, to optical or microwave signals as inputs, making it an ideal
flywheel for metrological fiber networks and RF over fiber nodes. It is the follow-up system
to the Menlo device featured in Jahangir et ali 2023*.

10 GHz carrier

100 101 102 103 104 105 106
Offset frequency [Hz]Absolute phase noise specifications for a 10 GHz carrier
signal delivered by the UMS-Compact and UMS-Mini, incomparison with the best on the market upscaled OCXO.

10 1510 2

10 1101
100
Averaging time (s)102Absolute frequency stability of the 10 GHz signaldelivered by the UMS-Compact and UMS-Mini. The
optical stability of the reference system is also shown.

*Jahangir, M. et al. “Building a Quantum-Enabled, Networked Radar Testbed for Urban Surveillance of Low Observable
Aerial Targets – Current Status,” in 10th Military Sensing Symposium (NATO STO, 2023). doi:10.14339/STO-MP-SET-311.

ultrastable laser and an optical frequency
comb■ Fully remotely controllable■ Customizable, with the possibility toequip the unit with multiple outputs, both
optical and RF/Microwave frequencies■ Highest stability

K E Y S P E C I F I C AT I O N S■ Configurable with multiple phase-coherent

RF and Microwave frequency outputs:
1-20 GHz with guaranteed spectral purity■ Includes 1 PPS, 10 MHz and 100 MHzoutputs■ Phase noise as low as <-95 dBc/Hz at
1 Hz, -160 dBc/Hz at ≥ 10 kHz from a
10 GHz carrier■ Frequency instability (for X-Band signals) as
low as <2E-15 at 1 s, <5E-11 (50 ppt) at
1 day (without drift-removal)■ De-drift option available (via GPS or morestable references)UMS-Compact

Ultrastable Microwave SystemInputs

UMS-Compact (up to 24 HU)

Outputs

Optical Frequency Comband further
Microwave extensions

1 PPS - 10/100 MHz

10 MHz Ext. Reference

MW outputs

Optical Frequency Comb
Subsystem(e.g.) 10 GHz, >-5 dBm
Vis/IR OFC stable-light

Optical Reference
Subsystem

Optical Ext. Reference

1.5 um OFC stable-light
1.5 um ORS stable-light

Optical Signals

RF/Microwave Signals

S P E C I F I C AT I O N S
Phase noise
10 MHzFrequency stability (absolute*)
100 MHz10 GHz10 MHzOffset frequency (Hz)1100 MHz

10 GHzAveraging time (s))-140-125-95

0.1<3E-14<5E-14<3E-15

10-150-135-115

1<3E-14<5E-14<3E-15100-155-145-130

10<1E-13<1E-13<1E-141k-165-150-145100<5E-13<5E-13<1E-1310k-165-155-160

1000<5E-12<5E-12<1E-12100k<-165-155<-160>10000<5E-11<5E-11<1E-11

1M<-165-155<-165

System can be equipped with GPS receiver for long-term steering. De-drift function can be configured for handover at the appropriate time to a more stable reference.
*Inquire for residual.

OUTPUTS
Level, 50 ΩIsolation
SpuriusP O W E R / E N V I R O N M E N TA L R E Q U I R E M E N T S
1/100 MHz

Microwave>7 dBm>-5 dBm**>70 dB>80 dB<-90 dBc<-70 dBc

Operating Voltage
Line Frequency
Operating TemperaturePower Consumption

100/115/230 VAC
50 to 60 Hz
22 ± 5 °C<250 W**Please inquire for change of specs for amplified power levels.

O R D E R I N G I N F O R M AT I O N
Product CodeUMS-Compact

Please call for pricing. Specifications are subject to change without notice. Custom modifications are available, please inquire. The cubic cavity is an NPL patented design that is soldunder a licensing agreement with the National Physical Laboratory (NPL). This configuration of the NPL cavity is intended for terrestrial use only. For further information on spacecustomised or space-qualified cavities, please contact NPL.
Laser Radiation
Class1 Laser Productaccording to DIN EN 60825-1:2015-07

Menlo Systems GmbH
T+49 89 189 166 0
sales@menlosystems.com

www.menlosystems.com

Menlo Systems UST+1 303 635 6406
ussales@menlosystems.com

Menlo Systems Japan
T+81 907 409 20 21
jpsales@menlosystems.com

Menlo Systems ChinaT+86 21 6071 1678
chinasales@menlosystems.com
D-UMS-Compact-EN 04/03/2024