Ultrafast electrooptic dual-comb interferometry

TL;DR

This paper introduces a groundbreaking dual-comb interferometer using electrooptic technology, achieving a record-high measurement refresh rate of 25 MHz, significantly surpassing previous laser-based systems and enabling new applications in ultrabroadband waveform measurement.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel electrooptic dual-comb interferometer with ultrafast measurement capabilities, expanding the potential of frequency combs beyond traditional laser-based systems.

Findings

Achieved a 25 MHz measurement refresh rate.

Demonstrated complex spectrum measurement at ultrafast speeds.

Enabled new applications in ultrabroadband waveform analysis.

Abstract

The femtosecond laser frequency comb has enabled the 21st century revolution in optical synthesis and metrology. A particularly compelling technique that relies on the broadband coherence of two laser frequency combs is dual-comb interferometry. This method is rapidly advancing the field of optical spectroscopy and empowering new applications, from nonlinear microscopy to laser ranging. Up to now, most dual-comb interferometers were based on modelocked lasers, whose repetition rates have restricted the measurement speed to ~ kHz. Here we demonstrate a novel dual-comb interferometer that is based on electrooptic frequency comb technology and measures consecutive complex spectra at a record-high refresh rate of 25 MHz. These results pave the way for novel scientific and metrology applications of frequency comb generators beyond the realm of molecular spectroscopy, where the measurement of ultrabroadband waveforms is of paramount relevance.