# Turn-key, high-efficiency Kerr comb source

## TL;DR

This paper presents an automated method for generating high-efficiency Kerr frequency combs in silicon nitride microresonators with normal GVD, achieving record conversion efficiency and enabling practical optical communication applications.

## Contribution

The authors introduce a coupled-ring design that precisely controls avoided mode crossings to produce low-noise, high-efficiency Kerr combs in the normal GVD regime, a significant advancement over prior methods.

## Key findings

- Achieved pump-to-comb conversion efficiency of up to 41%.
- Demonstrated low-noise frequency comb generation in normal GVD silicon nitride resonators.
- Enabled on-demand, high-power comb sources suitable for optical communications.

## Abstract

We demonstrate an approach for automated Kerr comb generation in the normal group-velocity dispersion (GVD) regime. Using a coupled-ring geometry in silicon nitride, we precisely control the wavelength location and splitting strength of avoided mode crossings to generate low-noise frequency combs with pump-to-comb conversion efficiencies of up to 41%, which is the highest reported to date for normal-GVD Kerr combs. Our technique enables on-demand generation of a high-power comb source for applications such as wavelength-division multiplexing in optical communications.