Signal Source Analyzer for Frequency Comb, Orbital Angular Momentum Applications, and Highly Nonlinear Materials
Abstract
Optical Kerr frequency combs can be generated compactly inside a microresonator by a single seed pump light through a four-wave mixing process. Frequency combs generated from a microresonator have several advantages, including large comb line spacing (>10 GHz), a broad comb bandwidth, and high power per comb line. These features are favorable in applications related to high-speed optical communication systems, optical signal processing, and optical measurement. This DURIP proposal requests $142,023 to purchase a signal source analyzer (SSA) that characterizes signal quality, noise, and transients, as well as a microwave downconverter that extends the frequency range of the SSA. The desired items will greatly extend our current capability for signal source measurement. We emphasize that the SSA is essential for determining the quality of pump lasers and gaining a fundamental understanding of the physics of Kerr frequency combs. It could also be beneficial for exploring multiple OAM beams with frequency combs, which may lead to novel communication and imaging applications as well as for studying the ultra-high nonlinearity of epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) materials. With the requested equipment, we could deepen our understanding of the fundamental physics of Kerr frequency comb generation by characterizing the signal quality of the generated comb lines and demonstrating the potential applications of Kerr frequency combs for coherent communication, signal processing, and optical measurement.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Aug 12, 2021
- Source ID
- FA95502010152
Entities
People
- Alan E. Willner
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of Southern California