Dual-comb spectroscopy is an emerging new spectroscopic tool that exploits the frequency resolution, frequency accuracy, broad bandwidth, and brightness of frequency combs for ultrahigh-resolution, high-sensitivity broadband spectroscopy. By using two coherent frequency combs, dual-comb spectroscopy allows a sample’s spectral response to be measured on a comb tooth-by-tooth basis rapidly and without the size constraints or instrument response limitations of conventional spectrometers. This review describes dual-comb spectroscopy and summarizes the current state of the art. As frequency comb technology progresses, dual-comb spectroscopy will continue to mature and could surpass conventional broadband spectroscopy for a wide range of laboratory and field applications.

Dual-comb spectroscopy

Optical arbitrary waveform generation will allow waveforms to be synthesized at optical frequencies but with the flexibility currently available at radiofrequencies. This technique is enabled by combining frequency comb technology, which produces trains of optical pulses with a well-defined frequency spectrum, with pulse shaping methods, which are used to transform a train of ultrashort pulses into an arbitrary waveform. To produce a waveform that fills time, the resolution of the shaper must match the repetition rate of the original pulse train, which in turn must have a comb spectrum that is locked to the shaper. Here, we review the current efforts towards achieving optical arbitrary waveform generation and discuss the possible applications of this technology.

Optical arbitrary waveform generation

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.

Modelocking and femtosecond pulse generation in chip-based frequency combs.

This work demonstrates the feasibility of optical millimeter-wave signal generation using frequency 12-tupling. Optical millimeter-wave signal with two sixth-order optical sidebands are generated using frequency quadrupling optical millimeter-wave generation along with optical four-wave-mixing. 210- and 120-GHz two-tone optical signals with optical carrier and undesired harmonic distortion suppression ratios of 20 and 30 dB are experimentally demonstrated. The proposed system provides an attractive method for millimeter-wave applications such as optical up-conversion in radio-over-fiber (RoF) communication systems at millimeter-wave band, phase-array antennas, optical sensors, radars, and tera-hertz applications.

https://ir.nctu.edu.tw:443/bitstream/11536/6126/1/000272998600005.pdf

Optical Millimeter-Wave Signal Generation Via Frequency 12-Tupling

Besides distinct features on RF/optical signal generation, optoelectronic oscillators (OEOs) have also been rapidly developed as emerging techniques towards sensing, measurement, and detection. In this paper, we start with the conceptual architecture and the analytical model of OEOs. Then, three operation principles behind sensing, measurement, and detection applications are categorized, including the variation on the time delay of loop, the passband reconfiguration of microwave photonic filter in loop, and the oscillation gain from injection locking, which clearly clarify the X-to-frequency mapping (X denotes target parameter or signal) for supporting practical solutions and approaches. Next, a comprehensive review to advances in OEO-based sensing, measurement, and detection applications is presented, including length change and distance measurement, refractive index estimation, load and strain sensing, temperature and acoustic sensing, optical clock recovery, and low-power RF signal detection. As a new application example, a novel approach for in-line position finding is proposed. When a long fiber Bragg grating inserted into OEO is locally heated to slightly broaden its reflection spectrum, the target position heated is mapped into the oscillating frequency shift, according to the first operation principle. A sensitivity of 254.66 kHz/cm is obtained for position finding in the experiment. Afterward, solutions for calibration and stabilization are briefly introduced, which enable us to improve the accuracy and reliability. Finally, features and future prospects on the sensing, measurement, and detection applications are discussed, such as compact and integrated OEOs.

Optoelectronic Oscillators (OEOs) to Sensing, Measurement, and Detection

A coupled optoelectronic oscillator (COEO) based on a laser with a high finesse intracavity etalon is presented. Unlike a conventional COEO, the incorporation of the etalon produces a 10.24-GHz spaced optical frequency comb by selecting a single optical supermode. The same etalon serves as a reference for active stabilization of the optical frequencies and the pulse repetition rate via the Pound-Drever-Hall stabilization method. This results in 160 to 190 comb lines with sub-1-MHz drift and sub-10-kHz linewidth, as well as subpicosecond pulses and 350-Hz maximum deviation of the pulse repetition rate over 10 min. The completely self-contained source allows the COEO utility to extend to a host of new coherent communication and signal processing applications.

Self-Stabilization of the Optical Frequencies and the Pulse Repetition Rate in a Coupled Optoelectronic Oscillator

Extensive noise analysis is presented of a semiconductor-based coupled opto-electronic oscillator using continuous-wave optical injection for the generation of an optical frequency comb with 10.24 GHz spacing. The suppression of unwanted optical axial mode groups arising from the harmonic nature of mode locking is achieved via gain competition. Amplitude noise measurements show a marked reduction in noise due to optical injection for multiple injection powers. Supermode noise spur suppression is shown to be greater than 15 dB in absolute phase noise measurements, taken using the frequency discriminator technique. Allan deviation measurements are also shown for both the free-running and injection-locked states.

Noise Characterization of an Injection-Locked COEO With Long-Term Stabilization

Optical frequency combs are used as local oscillators for the measurement and analysis of unknown optical waveforms with periodic time domain structures. Experimental results obtained by heterodyning pulsed and phase-modulated laser sources are presented. The analysis is then extended to the heterodyning and sampling of bandlimited incoherent light sources. It is shown theoretically and experimentally that the correlations between photodetected white light at different times can generate RF interference that is sensitive to the optical phase.

Multiheterodyne Detection for Spectral Compression and Downconversion of Arbitrary Periodic Optical Signals

A spectrally efficient multiheterodyne scheme is applied for the independent measurement of the spectral phase profiles of three distinct semiconductor frequency combs. The amount of quadratic and cubic phase is quantified for each source, providing insight on the dispersive properties of the semiconductor gain and the fiberized laser cavity. This information is vital for the optimization and expansion of the spectral bandwidth of such sources.

Characterization of Semiconductor-Based Optical Frequency Comb Sources Using Generalized Multiheterodyne Detection

Stabilization of an injection locked optical frequency comb is achieved through polarization spectroscopy of an active laser cavity, eliminating optical PM sidebands inherent in previous stabilization methods. Optical SNR of 35 dB is achieved.

Charles Williams

Papers

Self-Stabilization of the Optical Frequencies and the Pulse Repetition Rate in a Coupled Optoelectronic Oscillator

Noise Characterization of an Injection-Locked COEO With Long-Term Stabilization

Multiheterodyne Detection for Spectral Compression and Downconversion of Arbitrary Periodic Optical Signals

Characterization of Semiconductor-Based Optical Frequency Comb Sources Using Generalized Multiheterodyne Detection

Stabilization of an injection locked harmonically mode-locked laser via polarization spectroscopy for frequency comb generation