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Continuously tunable, precise, single frequency optical signal generator

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Abstract

To realize a genuine CW optical frequency synthesizer, a continuously tunable single-frequency CW laser has been employed to track precisely any arbitrary component of a wide bandwidth phase-stabilized optical comb. We demonstrate experimentally two fundamental aspects of optical frequency synthesis, namely, precise setting of the laser frequency at an arbitrary pre-determined value, and continuous tuning of the laser frequency with the digital precision known in radio frequency synthesis. A typical computer-automated search-and-lock procedure finishes on one-minute time scale.

©2002 Optical Society of America

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Figures (4)

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1. Experimental schematic and the basic operation principle of a fs-comb-guided optical frequency synthesizer. Heterodyne beat between the cw laser and the fs comb is used for frequency control.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2 (a) Heterodyne beat signal between the free-running cw laser and one of the comb components. (b) Beat signal after the cw laser is stabilized by the comb. Experimental data are in dots, and the associated Lorentzian fit is in solid line.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3 Continuous tuning of the single frequency laser in precision steps guided by the phase stabilized optical comb. An independent optical cavity provides the frequency marks for reference.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4 Random search of and stabilization to the targeted comb position by a single frequency cw laser, with an initial coarse guiding given by a wavelength meter (a), followed by a controlled frequency seeking (b). The entire searching procedure within a 0.5 nm spectral region finishes on one-minute time scale. Also shown is controlled fast switching of the laser diode frequency (c).
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