COMPACT OPTICAL FREQUENCY COMB SYSTEMS

摘要

Compact optical frequency sources are described. The comb source may include an intra-cavity optical element having a multi-material integrated structure with an electrically controllable active region. The active region may comprise a thin film. By way of example, the thin film and an insulating dielectric material disposed between two electrodes can provide for rapid loss modulation. In some embodiments the thin film may comprise graphene. In various embodiments of a frequency comb laser, rapid modulation of the CEO frequency can be implemented via electric modulation of the transmission or reflection loss of an additional optical element, which can be the saturable absorber itself. In another embodiment, the thin film can also be used as a saturable absorber in order to facilitate passive modelocking. In some implementations the optical element may be formed on a cleaved or polished end of an optical fiber.

主权项

1. A frequency comb laser generating an output pulse train characterized by having a repetition rate and a carrier envelope offset frequency, said laser comprising;
a laser cavity comprising a solid-state or a fiber gain medium; a saturable absorber to induce passive mode locking, said saturable absorber disposed in said cavity at a first cavity end; a pump source for optically pumping said gain medium; and an element disposed external to said gain medium, said element configured as part of said laser cavity and configured as a loss modulator to modulate the loss of said laser cavity; wherein said loss modulator is located at said first cavity end and is integral with said saturable absorber such that said element comprises an integral loss modulator/saturable absorber structure (LMSA).