Simple Single-Section Diode Frequency Combs

TL;DR

This paper presents a simple, compact, and inexpensive diode-laser based frequency comb generator capable of dual comb spectroscopy, with potential for portable measurement and spectroscopy applications.

Contribution

It introduces a novel diode-laser based frequency comb source that is simple, integrated, and battery-powered, advancing miniaturization in the field.

Findings

Demonstrated diode-laser frequency combs on a single chip

Performed dual comb spectroscopy of molecular gas

Showed combs can be battery powered

Abstract

Frequency combs, broadband light sources whose spectra consist of coherent, discrete modes, have become essential in many fields. Miniaturizing frequency combs would be a significant advance in these fields, enabling the deployment of frequency-comb based devices for diverse measurement and spectroscopy applications. We demonstrate diode-laser based frequency comb generators. These laser diodes are simple, electrically pumped, inexpensive and readily manufactured. Each chip contains several dozen diode-laser combs. We measure the time-domain output of a diode frequency comb to reveal the underlying frequency dynamics responsible for the comb spectrum, conduct dual comb spectroscopy of a molecular gas with two devices on the same chip, and demonstrate that these combs can be battery powered.