Low-repetition-rate optical frequency comb

Optica, vol. 11, pp. 1

Abstract

Reducing the pulse repetition rate of an optical frequency comb increases the pulse energy for a given average power. This enhances the efficiency of nonlinear frequency conversion and it facilitates extending the accessible wavelength range, for example, into the extreme ultraviolet (XUV). The resulting spectrally dense frequency comb can still be used for precision spectroscopy of narrow atomic or molecular transitions. In this paper, we demonstrate a low-noise infrared frequency comb with a repetition rate as low as 40 kHz using a Yb:KYW mode-locked laser, pulse picking, and subsequent amplification. The frequency comb structure is confirmed by generating a beat note with a continuous wave reference laser. A comb mode is actively stabilized to the reference laser, and the integrated rms phase noise from 20 Hz to 20 kHz is measured to be 195 mrad.

Authors 9

1. Francesco Canella

   Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics · Istituto di Fotonica e Nanotecnologie · Politecnico di Milano

   Affiliation as printed

   Dipartimento di Fisica, Politecnico di Milano, piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy

   Istituto di Fotonica e Nanotecnologie -Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy

   Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik

2. Johannes Weitenberg Aachen Fraunhofer-Institut für Lasertechnik ILT

   Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics · Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Fraunhofer-Institut für Lasertechnik ILT

   Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik

3. Muhammad Thariq

   Karlsruhe Institute of Technology · Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics

   Affiliation as printed

   Karlsruher Institut für Technologie

   Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik

4. Fabian Schmid

   ETH Zurich · Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics

   Affiliation as printed

   ETH Zürich

   Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik

5. Paras Dwivedi

   Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics · Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

   Affiliation as printed

   Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

   Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik

6. G. Galzerano

   Istituto di Fotonica e Nanotecnologie

   Affiliation as printed

   Istituto di Fotonica e Nanotecnologie -Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy

7. Theodor W. Hänsch

   Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics · Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

   Affiliation as printed

   Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

   Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik

8. Thomas Udem

   Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics · Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

   Affiliation as printed

   Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

   Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik

9. Akira Ozawa

   Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics

   Affiliation as printed

   Max-Planck-Institut für Quantenoptik