Abstract

Optical frequency combs (OFCs) offer a unique way of generating coherent light over a broad spectral range and have revolutionized laser-based spectroscopy, making it possible to achieve an unprecedented precision in measurements. [1] Frequency combs can be generated in different ways, either using mode-locked femtosecond lasers, by using four-wave mixing (FWM) in highly nonlinear fibers [2], or by pumping a microresonator cavity made by a nonlinear material using a continuous-wave (CW) laser (see Fig. 1). OFCs have numerous intriguing prospects for applications to optical communications, spectroscopy, frequency metrology, optical clocks and waveform synthesis [1, 3].

© 2015 IEEE