Accuracy of optical frequency comb generation in optical fiber

Abstract

We evaluated the accuracy of an optical frequency comb in optical fibers by measuring the frequency shift after a sideband from an electro-optic modulator had passed through the fiber. We found that a frequency drift of a few hertz was due largely to a variation in the ambient temperature that corresponded to an increase in the square root of the Allan variance to 0.66 Hz.

A New Era of Frequency Standards and Optical Frequency Measurement

“…The uniformity of the comb frequency spacing was carefully investigated. 41 By 1998, this comb generator approach had produced a spectrum extending a few tens of THz, 42 nearly 10% of the optical carrier frequency. With development of the optical frequency comb generator, a number of other interesting applications have started to emerge.…”

Optical frequency synthesis based on mode-locked lasers

“…The uniformity of the comb frequency spacing was carefully verified. 62 These optical frequency comb generators ͑OFCGs͒ have produced spectra that extend a few tens of THz, 63 nearly 10% of the optical carrier frequency. At JILA, we developed unique OFCGs, one with the capability of single comb line selection 64 and the other with efficiency enhancement via an integrated OPO/EOM system.…”

Terahertz frequency generation by frequency mixing in semiconductor optical amplifiers

“…Phase modulation is another means to create precisely spaced comb frequencies however the bandwidth is limited by the difficulty of achieving large phase modulation [11]. Self phase modulation techniques have recently been proposed for OFC generators [12,13]. They invariably include bulky equipment, and the modulation sidebands turn to be sensitive to the output power of the OFC generator and can lead to incorrect counting of the frequency.…”