特邀文章：一种紧凑型光学相干光纤频率梳

Invited Article: A compact optically coherent fiber frequency comb.

作者信息

Sinclair L C, Deschênes J-D, Sonderhouse L, Swann W C, Khader I H, Baumann E, Newbury N R, Coddington I

机构信息

National Institute of Standards and Technology, 325 Broadway, Boulder, Colorado 80303, USA.

出版信息

Rev Sci Instrum. 2015 Aug;86(8):081301. doi: 10.1063/1.4928163.

DOI:10.1063/1.4928163

PMID:26329167

Abstract

We describe the design, fabrication, and performance of a self-referenced, optically coherent frequency comb. The system robustness is derived from a combination of an optics package based on polarization-maintaining fiber, saturable absorbers for mode-locking, high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) detection of the control signals, and digital feedback control for frequency stabilization. The output is phase-coherent over a 1-2 μm octave-spanning spectrum with a pulse repetition rate of ∼200 MHz and a residual pulse-to-pulse timing jitter <3 fs well within the requirements of most frequency-comb applications. Digital control enables phase coherent operation for over 90 h, critical for phase-sensitive applications such as timekeeping. We show that this phase-slip free operation follows the fundamental limit set by the SNR of the control signals. Performance metrics from three nearly identical combs are presented. This laptop-sized comb should enable a wide-range of applications beyond the laboratory.

摘要

我们描述了一种自参考光学相干频率梳的设计、制造和性能。该系统的稳健性源于以下因素的组合：基于保偏光纤的光学组件、用于锁模的可饱和吸收体、控制信号的高信噪比（SNR）检测以及用于频率稳定的数字反馈控制。输出在1 - 2μm的倍频程跨度光谱上具有相位相干性，脉冲重复率约为200 MHz，残余脉冲间定时抖动<3 fs，完全满足大多数频率梳应用的要求。数字控制可实现超过90小时的相位相干操作，这对于诸如计时等相位敏感应用至关重要。我们表明，这种无相位跳变操作遵循控制信号SNR设定的基本限制。给出了三个几乎相同的频率梳的性能指标。这种笔记本电脑大小的频率梳应能实现实验室之外的广泛应用。