Self-referenced characterization of optical frequency combs and arbitrary waveforms using a simple, linear, zero-delay implementation of spectral shearing interferometry

摘要

We discuss a simple, linear, zero-delay implementation of spectral shearinginterferometry for amplitude and phase characterization of optical frequencycomb sources and arbitrary waveforms. We demonstrate this technique bycharacterizing two different high repetition rate (~10 GHz) frequency combsources, generated respectively by strong external and intracavity phasemodulation of a continuous-wave laser. This technique is easy to implement,requiring only an intensity modulator and an optical spectrum analyzer (OSA),and is demonstrated to work at average power levels down to 100nW (10aJ/pulseat 10 GHz). By exploiting the long coherence lengths of these frequency combsand the self-referenced nature of the measurement, we also demonstrate a simplesingle-ended measurement of dispersion and dispersion slope in long lengths offiber (>25km).