Abstract
We present a simple method for fully stabilized mid-infrared optical frequency comb generation based on single-pass femtosecond optical parametric generation that is seeded by a continuous-wave laser. We have implemented the method in a periodically poled lithium niobate crystal that produces a frequency comb tunable across 3325 nm–4000 nm (2380 cm−1–3030 cm−1). The method generates the mid-infrared (idler) comb with known and stabilized Carrier-Envelope Offset (CEO) frequency without the need to directly detect it. The idler CEO is continuously tunable for almost half of the repetition rate and can be modulated. Together with the high output power (up to 700 mW) and low intensity noise (0.018% integrated in 10 Hz–2 MHz bandwidth), this makes the demonstrated mid-infrared frequency comb promising for many applications such as high-precision molecular spectroscopy, frequency metrology, and high harmonic generation.
Highlights
Since their first development about 20 years ago, Optical Frequency Combs (OFCs) have advanced science and technology in many different ways
One of the Difference Frequency Generation (DFG) methods involves mixing of a CW pump laser with an NIR OFC, in which case the Carrier-Envelope Offset (CEO) can be precisely controlled by varying the pump laser frequency
We have demonstrated a simple method that allows for the generation of stabilized MIR OFCs using femtosecond Optical Parametric Generation (OPG) with CW seeding
Summary
Since their first development about 20 years ago, Optical Frequency Combs (OFCs) have advanced science and technology in many different ways. One of the DFG methods involves mixing of a CW pump laser with an NIR OFC, in which case the CEO can be precisely controlled by varying the pump laser frequency.. One of the DFG methods involves mixing of a CW pump laser with an NIR OFC, in which case the CEO can be precisely controlled by varying the pump laser frequency.20,21 The drawbacks of this approach are low MIR output power and a rather complicated experimental setup. SPOPO does not make the CEO tuning easier, since for a singly resonant SPOPO, one needs to precisely control the pump CEO and scitation.org/journal/app the cavity length at the same time to tune the MIR comb CEO, and determination of the exact CEO frequency requires an additional measurement setup.. SPOPOs generally require precise cavity locking and careful engineering of the group delay dispersion.
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