# Soliton Microcomb Range Measurement

## TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a chip-based dual-comb laser ranging system using soliton microcombs, achieving high precision and extended measurement range, advancing miniaturized LIDAR technology.

## Contribution

It introduces a novel dual-comb distance measurement method with soliton microcombs generated in a single microresonator, enabling compact and high-performance laser ranging.

## Key findings

- 200 nm measurement precision at 500 ms averaging
- Extended ambiguity distance to 26 km
- Single microresonator generates counter-propagating solitons

## Abstract

Laser-based range measurement systems (LIDAR) are important in many application areas including autonomous vehicles, robotics, manufacturing, formation-flying of satellites, and basic science. Coherent laser ranging systems using dual frequency combs provide an unprecedented combination of long range, high precision and fast update rate. Here, dual-comb distance measurement using chip-based soliton microcombs is demonstrated. Moreover, the dual frequency combs are generated within a single microresonator as counter-propating solitons using a single pump laser. Time-of-flight measurement with 200 nm precision at 500 ms averaging time is demonstrated. Also, the dual comb method extends the ambiguity distance to 26 km despite a soliton spatial period of only 16 mm. This chip-based source is an important step towards miniature dual-comb laser ranging systems that are suitable for photonic integration.