Brillouin-Induced Kerr Frequency Comb in normal dispersion fiber Fabry Perot resonators

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a stable, broadband optical frequency comb generated in a normal dispersion fiber Fabry-Perot resonator through a novel Brillouin-induced Kerr process, with potential for various photonic applications.

Contribution

It introduces a new method for generating stable, broadband frequency combs in normal dispersion fibers using Brillouin-induced Kerr effects, supported by simulations and theory.

Findings

Generated a >10 THz broadband comb with high Q-factor resonator.

Demonstrated passive mode-locking via Kerr-Brillouin interaction.

Achieved comb repetition rates exceeding the cavity's free spectral range.

Abstract

We report the generation of a stable, broadband frequency comb, covering more than 10 THz, using a normal dispersion fiber Fabry-Perot resonator with a high quality factor of 69 millions. This platform ensures robust and easy integration into photonic devices via FC/PC connectors, and feature quality factors comparable to those of microresonators. We demonstrate a passive mode-locking phenomenon induced by the coherent interaction of the Kerr effect and Brillouin scattering, which generates a frequency comb with a repetition rate exceeding the free spectral range of the cavity. This parametric process modulates the continuous wave (CW) pump and can then be transformed into a train of almost square-wave pulses thanks to the generation of switching waves. Our results are supported by advanced numerical simulations, and theoretical derivations that include the Brillouin effect in the Fabry-Perot configuration. The very high stable feature of this optical frequency comb lying in the GHz range is critical to several applications ranging from telecommunication, spectroscopy and advanced microwave generation.