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Highly Coherent Tunable Frequency Combs

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Abstract

Introduction of optical frequency combs during the last decade has revolutionized multiple disciplines, with metrology, remote sensing, spectroscopy, ranging, vibrometry and imaging being the most prominent applications. However, it is also recognized that a set of fundamental and practical limitations are preventing widespread use of frequency comb sources across general imaging/sensing platforms. To be useful, frequency comb must possess sufficient spectral bandwidth, have high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) across all generated frequency tones and be capable of addressing any frequency grid. Unfortunately, a conventional frequency comb technology often fails on all three of these performance criteria. To achieve wideband frequency generation, device must be seeded by a laser source that possesses sufficient power and wavelength that matches a specific nonlinear material. The aggregate comb noise is then defined by the contributions from the seed laser and the subsequent mixing process. As a result, common reliance on mode-locked lasers (MLL) inevitably leads to noisy seeding of nonlinear frequency generation. While a stabilized continuous-wave laser can operate near the fundamental Schawlow-Townes (ST) limit, MLL lasers are limited by much higher level of technical noise. Even if the target application can tolerate low SNR, reliance on MLL laser excludes generation of an arbitrary frequency plan. Indeed, a stabilized MLL cavity also means a strictly defined repetition rate, thus eliminating free frequency tuning of the comb tone spacing (frequency pitch). An alternative technology, based on frequency generation in highly resonant nonlinear cavities, faces similar noise and tuning limitations, while also being severely restricted with respect to total emission power.

© 2016 Optical Society of America

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