Abstract

We present an arbitrary optical single-frequency generator based on a femtosecond optical frequency comb. The functions of this device are comparable to those of a radio-frequency synthesizer. However, this device operates at hundreds of terahertz. The absolute frequency accuracy of this synthesizer is $\sim 1\mathrm{kHz}$ at a 282 THz carrier frequency. The stability is $\sim 2\times {10}^{-14}$ at 100 s, and the tuning speed exceeds $30\mathrm{GHz}∕\mathrm{s}$. This source demonstrates the integration of a phase-locked optical comb into a versatile and easy-to-use system for the generation of tunable, absolute optical frequencies. By using downconversion, one could generate tunable terahertz frequencies that are phase locked to a microwave reference, such as a Cs atomic clock, and high-precision interferometry could benefit greatly from the stability and accuracy of this widely tunable source.

© 2005 Optical Society of America

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