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Flat optical frequency comb generation using polarization modulator and frequency shifter with double recirculating frequency shifting loops

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Abstract

A scheme to generate ultra-flat and stable optical frequency comb (OFC) based on multi-wavelength optical seed source and polarization-modulator-based complementary frequency shifter (PCFS) has been proposed and demonstrated. The OFC generation scheme includes two stages: 5-carrier light source is generated by utilizing a polarization modulator at the first stage, and the light source is then used as the seed light in the PCFS at the second stage. Compared with the previous flat OFC generator based on a recirculation frequency shifter, the proposed scheme can greatly reduce the recirculation times, and such a property makes the accumulated noise of the system enormously decrease. In order to achieve the frequency comb with the best flatness, the optical amplifier gain, filter stop-band attenuation and modulator drive voltage are optimized. Experiment simulations show that high-quality OFC with hundreds of frequency lines and power fluctuation within 2 dB can be achieved without direct-current bias control and wavelength-selective-switch.

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported by Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China (61132004, 61275073, 61420106011), and Shanghai Science and Technology Development Funds (15511105400, 15530500600, 16511104100).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Specialty Fiber Optics and Optical Access Networks, Shanghai University, No. 149, Yanchang Road, Shanghai, 200072, China

    Yaling Cui, Ruxing Li & Shibao Wu

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  1. Yaling Cui
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  2. Ruxing Li
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  3. Shibao Wu
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Correspondence to Shibao Wu.

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Cui, Y., Li, R. & Wu, S. Flat optical frequency comb generation using polarization modulator and frequency shifter with double recirculating frequency shifting loops. Opt Quant Electron 49, 338 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11082-017-1179-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11082-017-1179-0

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