Dual-comb generation with counter-propagating self-injection-locked solitons

Area of Science:

• Photonics and Optical Engineering
• Nonlinear Optics
• Integrated Photonics

Background:

• Microresonator-based optical frequency combs are crucial for advanced applications.
• Dual-comb generation typically requires complex setups with doubled hardware.
• Existing methods face challenges in hardware complexity and control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose and investigate a simplified dual-comb generation scheme.
• To overcome the limitations of conventional dual-comb systems.
• To enable efficient dual-comb generation using a single laser and microresonator.

Main Methods:

• A single laser diode is self-injection locked to a microresonator.
• The laser output is split to pump the microresonator in counter-propagating directions.
• Numerical simulations using coupled Lugiato-Lefever equations are employed.

Main Results:

• Demonstration of turnkey counter-propagating single soliton generation.
• Successful implementation of repetition rate tuning for the dual combs.
• Validation of the novel scheme through extensive simulations.

Conclusions:

• The proposed scheme offers a simplified and efficient approach to dual-comb generation.
• This method reduces hardware requirements and control complexity.
• It holds significant potential for various photonic applications requiring dual combs.