Thermally Controllable Kerr Comb Generation
Researchers at Purdue University have developed a tunable optical comb generator having a source laser configured to generate a continuous wave (CW) light at a first wavelength. A microresonator coupled to the source laser is configured to receive the CW light and generate an optical signal which has a plurality of output wavelengths corresponding to the first wavelength. This generator includes a microresonator tuning device coupled to the microresonator and configured to compensate the microresonator for wavelength shifts. A heater coupled to the microresonators in the form of micro rings may be used to adjust the microresonators. This technology makes it possible to generate Kerr combs with just a fixed-wavelength laser. Furthermore, it greatly reduces the complexity of comb generation setup, gives the configuration high potential for chip-level integration, and allows for maintaining the comb's properties during the tuning process.
Reduced complexity of comb generationAllows for use of fixed-wavelength laser Properties of comb maintained during tuning
High precision spectroscopyGPS technologyOptical atomic clocksOptical metrology
Andrew WeinerPurdue Electrical and Computer Engineering
United States
None
USA
