Frequency comb source with large comb spacing

摘要

A frequency comb laser providing large comb spacing is disclosed. At least one embodiment includes a mode locked waveguide laser system. The mode locked waveguide laser includes a laser cavity having a waveguide, and a dispersion control unit (DCU) in the cavity. The DCU imparts an angular dispersion, group-velocity dispersion (GVD) and a spatial chirp to a beam propagating in the cavity. The DCU is capable of producing net GVD in a range from a positive value to a negative value. In some embodiments a tunable fiber frequency comb system configured as an optical frequency synthesizer is provided. In at least one embodiment a low phase noise micro-wave source may be implemented with a fiber comb laser having a comb spacing greater than about 1 GHz. The laser system is suitable for mass-producible fiber comb sources with large comb spacing and low noise. Applications include high-resolution spectroscopy.

主权项

1. A mode locked waveguide laser system, comprising:
a mode locked waveguide laser comprising a laser cavity having a waveguide, said mode locked waveguide laser system operably arranged as a frequency comb laser providing tunable comb spacing, tunable carrier envelope offset frequency, or both; an intra-cavity beam emitted from said waveguide; and a dispersion control unit (DCU) disposed in said cavity and in an optical path of said intra-cavity beam, wherein said laser cavity is configured in such a way that said intra-cavity beam is redirected to said waveguide after traversing at least said DCU, said DCU comprising a single optical element operably arranged to induce angular dispersion on said intra-cavity beam, wherein said DCU imparts angular dispersion, and group-velocity dispersion (GVD) to said intra-cavity beam during propagation in said cavity, and imparts a spatial chirp to said redirected beam, wherein said DCU is capable of producing net GVD in a range from a positive value to a negative value.