Frequency comb with a spectral range of 0.4–5.2 µm based on a compact all-fiber laser and LiNbO3 waveguide

Abstract

This Letter presents a 0.4–5.2-µm frequency comb from a compact laser. We designed an integrated fiber device for a figure-9 laser and constructed an all-fiber laser system. The spectrum of the fiber laser was scaled to the broadband region using a chirped periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide. To use this system for gas sensing, a mid-infrared comb with a spectral range of 2.5–5.2 µm and average power of 2.1 mW was divided using an optical filter. The optical part was packaged in a 305 mm × 225 mm × 62 mm box. The comb was stabilized by locking the repetition rate and carrier-envelope offset frequency of the seed source. The system provided an ultrabroadband spectral range from 0.4 to 5.2 µm, which could be applied to spectroscopy, frequency metrology, and optical synthesizers.