Tailoring frequency combs through VCSEL polarization dynamics.

Yaya Doumbia,Krassimir Panajotov,Delphine Wolfersberger,Marc Sciamanna

doi:10.1364/oe.432281

Yaya Doumbia, Krassimir Panajotov + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1364/oe.432281

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Abstract

We investigate experimentally the nonlinear polarization dynamics of a VCSEL subject to optical injection of a frequency comb. By tuning the polarization of the injected comb to be orthogonal to that of the VCSEL, we demonstrate the generation of either a single polarization or a dual polarization frequency comb. The injection parameters (injected power and detuning frequency) are then used either to generate harmonics of the initial comb spacing or to increase the number of total output frequency lines up to 15 times the number of injected comb lines. Optimisation of the injection parameters yields a comb extending over 60 GHz for a comb spacing of 2 GHz with a carrier to noise ratio (CNR) of up to 60 dB. Our technique allows us to separately control the comb spacing, comb bandwidth, CNR and polarization. Our finding can be used for spectroscopy measurement and also for polarization division multiplexing in optical data communications.

Highlights

Since the demonstration of applications in optical metrology, optical telecommunication and gas spectroscopy, optical frequency comb (OFC) technologies have driven significant attention
We propose a new approach of broad OFC generation that offers the possibility to adapt the comb properties to applications ranging from optical telecommunication to gas spectroscopy, exploiting the Vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) polarization dynamics
Beyond the injection locking with selective amplification reported in [37,38,39], we hereby reveal several bifurcations scenarios leading to stable unlocked time-periodic dynamic corresponding to a new OFC with the same comb spacing as the injection one, but with a significantly extended bandwidth, an improved Carrier to Noise Ratio (CNR), and a controllable polarization

Summary

Introduction

Since the demonstration of applications in optical metrology, optical telecommunication and gas spectroscopy, optical frequency comb (OFC) technologies have driven significant attention. To satisfy each application requirements, several methods of OFC generation have been reported recently including, quantum cascade laser [1], mode locking laser [2] micro-resonators [3] and electro-optics modulators [4] Each of these techniques presents many advantages but with some limitations that has to be improved. Beyond the injection locking with selective amplification reported in [37,38,39], we hereby reveal several bifurcations scenarios leading to stable unlocked time-periodic dynamic corresponding to a new OFC with the same comb spacing as the injection one, but with a significantly extended bandwidth, an improved Carrier to Noise Ratio (CNR), and a controllable polarization. The CNR which characterizes the power in the comb lines has increased to reach 60 dB, which is more than 3 times the one obtained very recently [42] and larger than the one required for spectroscopy [43]

Experimental setup

Polarization switching curves

Polarized frequency comb generation

Two polarization frequency comb generation

Tailoring the comb properties

Conclusion