A simplified tunable frequency interval optical frequency comb generator using a single continuous-wave laser

Abstract:

We propose and demonstrate a simplified and tunable frequency interval optical frequency comb (OFC) generator based on a dual-drive Mach-Zehnder modulator (DD-MZM) using a single continuous-wave (CW) laser and low-power radio frequency (RF) driven signal. A mathematical model for the scheme is established. The 21- and 29-mode OFCs with frequency interval ranging from 6 GHz to 40 GHz are obtained under DD-MZM driven by a low-power RF signal within a maximum bandwidth of 1.12 THz. The generated OFCs exhibit spectral flatnesses of less than 0.5 dB and 0.8 dB within bandwidths of 160 GHz and 400 GHz, respectively.