Open AccessUltralow Noise Optical Frequency Combs
Author(s) -
Mamoru Endo,
Tyko D. Shoji,
Thomas R. Schibli
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
ieee journal of selected topics in quantum electronics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.131
H-Index - 159
eISSN - 1558-4542
pISSN - 1077-260X
DOI - 10.1109/jstqe.2018.2818461
Subject(s) - engineered materials, dielectrics and plasmas , photonics and electrooptics
The invention of optical frequency combs (OFCs) based on femtosecond (fs) mode-locked lasers has merged laser based spectroscopy with fs-laser technology. OFCs have triggered quantum leaps of advancement in photonics, physics, astronomy, and engineering, while also lending themselves to applications in medical and environmental fields. The key feature of OFCs is their ultrahigh frequency and time resolution. In this review, we introduce the concept behind OFCs and their sources, with a focus on stability and phase-noise performance. We conclude with a discussion of recent progress of a monolithic OFC, which provides ultralow free-running phase noise and an unprecedented frequency stability of 1 part in ${10^{19}}$