Modelocking and femtosecond pulse generation in chip-based frequency combs

Opt Express. 2013 Jan 14;21(1):1335-43. doi: 10.1364/OE.21.001335.

Abstract

We investigate simultaneously the temporal and optical and radio-frequency spectral properties of parametric frequency combs generated in silicon-nitride microresonators and observe that the system undergoes a transition to a mode-locked state. We demonstrate the generation of sub-200-fs pulses at a repetition rate of 99 GHz. Our calculations show that pulse generation in this system is consistent with soliton modelocking. Ultimately, such parametric devices offer the potential of producing ultra-short laser pulses from the visible to mid-infrared regime at repetition rates from GHz to THz.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.