Route to stabilized ultrabroadband microresonator-based frequency combs

TL;DR

This paper presents a theoretical model for microresonator frequency combs that explains the dynamics of achieving ultrabroadband, stabilized combs through three key stages, aligning with experimental observations.

Contribution

It extends the Lugiato-Lefever model to include higher-order effects and identifies the necessary stages for stable, ultrabroadband comb generation.

Findings

Model accurately predicts experimental features

Identifies three stages for comb stabilization

Explains multi-pulse and dispersive wave generation

Abstract

We perform the first theoretical modeling of the spectral-temporal dynamics of parametric microresonator comb generation with octave-spanning bandwidths through use of the Lugiato-Lefever model extended to include higher-order dispersion and self-steepening. We show that three distinct stages are necessary to achieve single-pulse modelocking and ultrabroadband, stabilized combs. Our simulations agree well with previous experimental demonstrations and predict many of the observed features, including multi-pulse generation, dispersive wave generation, modelocking and comb stabilization.