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Microwave Photonics Systems Based on Whispering-gallery-mode Resonators
Published on: August 5, 2013
Tunable optical frequency comb with a crystalline whispering gallery mode resonator
Anatoliy A Savchenkov1, Andrey B Matsko, Vladimir S Ilchenko
1OEwaves Inc., 1010 East Union Street, Pasadena, California 91106, USA.
Physical Review Letters
|October 15, 2008
Summary
We demonstrated a tunable optical frequency comb generator using a crystalline resonator. This device can create tunable microwave signals, showing potential for advanced signal generation.
Area of Science:
- Optics and Photonics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Optical frequency combs are crucial for precise frequency measurements and signal generation.
- Whispering gallery mode resonators offer high Q-factors for nonlinear optical processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally demonstrate a tunable monolithic optical frequency comb generator.
- To explore the generation of tunable narrow-band microwave signals using the developed comb.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing four-wave mixing in a crystalline calcium fluoride whispering gallery mode resonator.
- Tuning the pumping laser frequency to select the desired comb spacing, an integer multiple of the free spectral range.
Main Results:
- Successful demonstration of a tunable monolithic optical frequency comb.
- Observation of diverse optical comb structures and high-frequency hyperparametric oscillations.
- Proof-of-concept for generating tunable narrow-band microwave signals.
Conclusions:
- The crystalline whispering gallery mode resonator is a viable platform for tunable optical frequency comb generation.
- The device shows promise for applications in tunable microwave signal synthesis.
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