Hybrid AM/FM Mode-Locking of Singly-Resonant OPOs

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel mode-locking regime in singly-resonant OPOs using simultaneous amplitude and frequency modulation, resulting in a stable, broadband, chirped frequency comb with high efficiency and tunability.

Contribution

It demonstrates a new mode-locking technique in OPOs that combines amplitude and frequency modulation to produce stable, tunable frequency combs with simple phase-space dynamics.

Findings

Stable broadband chirped frequency combs achieved.

Fast, mode-hop-free tuning over the gain window.

Enhanced comb bandwidth through phase-mismatch and chirping.

Abstract

We investigate a new mode-locking regime in the singly-resonant OPO employing simultaneous amplitude- and frequency-modulation of the intracavity field. This OPO exhibits deterministic, "turn-key" formation of a stable, broadband, chirped frequency comb with high conversion efficiency. Comb-forming dynamics follow a simple phase-space dynamical model, governed by cavity dispersion and modulator chirp, which agrees closely with full numerical simulations. The comb exhibits fast, mode-hop-free tuning over the full gain window of the OPA crystal, controlled by the modulator frequency. Conditions for comb stability, and techniques to enhance comb bandwidth through intentional phase-mismatch and chirping, are investigated.