Active feedback stabilization of super-efficient microcombs in photonic molecules.

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Nonlinear Optics
• Quantum Optics

Background:

• Dissipative Kerr soliton (DKS) frequency combs in coupled cavities offer enhanced performance.
• Maintaining DKS microcombs in a low-noise state is crucial for applications.
• Photonic molecules provide a unique platform for DKS generation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate control and stabilization of super-efficient microcombs in a photonic molecule.
• To establish a feedback control mechanism for microcomb stabilization.
• To enable indefinite low-noise operation of DKS microcombs.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing coupled cavities to generate dissipative Kerr solitons.
• Implementing a feedback control loop based on the relationship between effective detuning and soliton power.
• Monitoring and stabilizing microcomb properties over extended durations.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated a direct relationship between effective detuning and soliton power.
• Successfully stabilized a highly efficient microcomb indefinitely using a feedback loop.
• Achieved sustained low-noise operation of the microcomb.

Conclusions:

• The developed feedback control method enables indefinite stabilization of super-efficient microcombs.
• This stabilization is key for practical applications of DKS frequency combs.
• The findings pave the way for optical communications and dual-comb spectroscopy.