Tuning Kerr-Soliton Frequency Combs to Atomic Resonances

Published

April 5, 2019

Author(s)

Su P. Yu, Travis Briles, Gregory Moille, Xiyuan Lu, Scott Diddams, Kartik Srinivasan, Scott Papp

Abstract

Frequency combs based on nonlinear optical phenomena in integrated photonics are a versatile light source that can explore new applications, including frequency metrology, optical communications, and sensing. We demonstrate robust frequency-control strategies for near-infrared, octave-bandwidth soliton frequency combs created with nanofabricated silicon nitride ring resonators. Group-velocity-dispersion engineering allows operation with a 1064-nm pump laser and generation of dual-dispersive-wave frequency combs linking wavelengths approximately between 767 and 1556 nm. To tune the mode frequencies of the comb, which are spaced by 1 THz, we design a photonic chip containing 75 ring resonators with systematically varied dimensions and we use a thermo-optic tuning range of 50 ◦C. This single-chip frequency-comb source provides access to every wavelength, including those critical for nearinfrared atomic spectroscopy of rubidium, potassium, and cesium. To make this possible, solitons are generated consistently from device to device across a single chip with use of rapid pump-frequency sweeps that are provided by an optical modulator.

Citation

Optica

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.11.044017

Local Download

Keywords

Kerr Solitons, Frequency Comb, Microresonator, Atomic Spectroscopy

Citation

Yu, S. , Briles, T. , Moille, G. , Lu, X. , Diddams, S. , Srinivasan, K. and Papp, S. (2019), Tuning Kerr-Soliton Frequency Combs to Atomic Resonances, Optica, [online], https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.11.044017, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=926384 (Accessed November 21, 2025)