Kerr frequency combs: a million ways to fit light pulses into tiny rings

¹ Laboratoire Interdisciplinaire Carnot de Bourgogne, 21000, Dijon, France
² Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light, 91058, Erlangen, Germany
³ Department of Physics, Friedrich Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058, Erlangen, Germany

^* e-mail: aurelien.coillet@u-bourgogne.fr

Abstract

Frequency combs can be generated in millimeter-sized optical resonators thanks to their ability to store extremely high light intensities and the nonlinearity of their materials. New frequencies are generated through a cascaded parametric amplification process which can result in various optical waveforms, from ultrastable pulse patterns to optical chaos. These Kerr frequency combs have been studied extensively, with a wealth of fascinating nonlinear dynamics reported, and myriads of applications being developed, ranging from precision spectroscopy and Lidars to telecom channel generators.