TY - JOUR

T1 - Modulation Instability Induced Frequency Comb Generation in a Continuously Pumped Optical Parametric Oscillator

AU - Mosca, S.

AU - Parisi, M.

AU - Ricciardi, I.

AU - Leo, F.

AU - Hansson, T.

AU - Erkintalo, M.

AU - Maddaloni, P.

AU - De Natale, P.

AU - Wabnitz, S.

AU - De Rosa, M.

PY - 2018/8/30

Y1 - 2018/8/30

N2 - Continuously pumped passive nonlinear cavities can be harnessed for the creation of novel optical frequency combs. While most research has focused on third-order "Kerr" nonlinear interactions, recent studies have shown that frequency comb formation can also occur via second-order nonlinear effects. Here, we report on the formation of quadratic combs in optical parametric oscillator (OPO) configurations. Specifically, we demonstrate that optical frequency combs can be generated in the parametric region around half of the pump frequency in a continuously driven OPO. We also model the OPO dynamics through a single time-domain mean-field equation, identifying previously unknown dynamical regimes, induced by modulation instabilities, which lead to comb formation. Numerical simulation results are in good agreement with experimentally observed spectra. Moreover, the analysis of the coherence properties of the simulated spectra shows the existence of correlated and phase-locked combs. Our results reveal previously unnoticed dynamics of an apparently well assessed optical system, and can lead to a new class of frequency comb sources that may stimulate novel applications by enabling straightforward access to elusive spectral regions, such as the midinfrared.

AB - Continuously pumped passive nonlinear cavities can be harnessed for the creation of novel optical frequency combs. While most research has focused on third-order "Kerr" nonlinear interactions, recent studies have shown that frequency comb formation can also occur via second-order nonlinear effects. Here, we report on the formation of quadratic combs in optical parametric oscillator (OPO) configurations. Specifically, we demonstrate that optical frequency combs can be generated in the parametric region around half of the pump frequency in a continuously driven OPO. We also model the OPO dynamics through a single time-domain mean-field equation, identifying previously unknown dynamical regimes, induced by modulation instabilities, which lead to comb formation. Numerical simulation results are in good agreement with experimentally observed spectra. Moreover, the analysis of the coherence properties of the simulated spectra shows the existence of correlated and phase-locked combs. Our results reveal previously unnoticed dynamics of an apparently well assessed optical system, and can lead to a new class of frequency comb sources that may stimulate novel applications by enabling straightforward access to elusive spectral regions, such as the midinfrared.

KW - MU-M

KW - COHERENCE PROPERTIES

KW - FIBER LASER

KW - WAVE-GUIDES

KW - PHASE

KW - NONLINEARITIES

KW - MICRORESONATOR

KW - PATTERNS

KW - DYNAMICS

KW - CAVITY

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85053164951&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.121.093903

DO - 10.1103/PhysRevLett.121.093903

M3 - Article

C2 - 30230881

AN - SCOPUS:85053164951

VL - 121

JO - Physical Review Letters

JF - Physical Review Letters

SN - 0031-9007

IS - 9

M1 - 093903

ER -