High Repetition Rate Photonic Frequency Combs and Applications

目的研究产生光频率梳的新型电光学和非线性光学方法，并探索这种新型光源的新应用。将光学频率梳（一种革命性的频率测量技术）与脉冲整形技术相结合，为用户指定的相干超短脉冲场的精确合成提供了新的能力，称为光学任意波形生成（OAWG）。然而，OAWG技术和应用最适合于光频率梳，其工作重复率明显高于电流源提供的重复率。因此，提出了一个新的研究计划，首先关注高重复率频率梳生成的新光子学方法，其次关注潜在的变革性新应用。产生方法包括电光相位调制和非线性光纤的新组合，并应用于数十GHz频率的梳；以及波导微谐振器中的非线性波混频，重点是在更高的重复频率（数百GHz）下精确波形生成。本文还提出了基于合成孔径雷达启发的高分辨率、对峙光学成像的研究，并提出了基于梳状结构的光纤宽带光相位测量技术。更广泛的影响这个项目应该在一个领先的研究小组的氛围中为广泛的尖端技术领域的学生提供丰富的培训机会。提案预算中包括两名博士生。通过与国家标准与技术研究所的研究人员合作的机会，研究生的培训将得到丰富。本科生也将参与本研究。在这个项目的过程中，Weiner教授还打算利用他最近出版的教科书，通过Nanohub.org将他关于超快光学的研究生课程放在网上。

Objective The objective is to investigate novel electro-optics and nonlinear optics approaches for generation of optical frequency combs and explore new applications of such novel light sources.Intellectual MeritCombining optical frequency combs, a technology that has revolutionized frequency metrology, with pulse shaping techniques provides new capability for precision synthesis of user-specified coherent ultrashort pulsed fields, termed optical arbitrary waveform generation (OAWG). However, OAWG technologies and applications are best suited to optical frequency combs operating at repetition rates significantly higher than those conveniently provided by current sources. Therefore, a new research program is proposed focusing first on novel photonics approaches for high repetition rate frequency comb generation and second on potentially transformative new applications thereby enabled. Generation approaches include novel combinationss of electro-optic phase modulation and nonlinear fiber optics with application to combs at tens of GHz rates; and nonlinear wave mixing in waveguide microresonators, with an emphasis on precise waveform generation at even higher repetition rates (hundreds of GHz). Investigation of high resolution, standoff optical imaging based on approaches inspired by synthetic aperture radar, enabled by comb-based techniques for measurement of broadband optical phase over optical fibers, is also proposed. Broader Impact This project should provide rich opportunities for broad student training in areas of cutting-edge technology within the atmosphere of a leading research group. Two Ph.D. students are included in the proposal budget. Graduate student training will be enriched through the opportunity to collaborate with researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. Undergraduate students will also participate in this research. During the course of this project, Prof. Weiner also intends to leverage his recent textbook publication by placing his graduate level course on Ultrafast Optics on-line via Nanohub.org.