Abstract

The ±1-order Kelly sidebands with dispersion-dependent spacing of mode-locking fiber lasers are investigated for frequency-tunable terahertz signal generation. The principle of dispersion dependence of Kelly sidebands is analyzed. A new method, which is a dispersion-management mechanism introduced into the fiber-laser cavity, is proposed to generate Kelly sidebands with widely tunable wavelength spacing. A spacing tuning range of up to 28.46 nm of the ±1-order Kelly sidebands is obtained in simulation. Using the data of the optical spectrum with dispersion-dependent Kelly sidebands, the frequency spectrum of generated terahertz signals is calculated. Consequently, the signal frequency can be changed from 0.09 to 2.27 THz.