An ultra-stable high-power optical frequency comb

Abstract

Optical frequency combs are typically generated in the near-infrared wavelength range, where many mode-locked lasers operate. Nonlinear frequency conversion can then be used to extend optical frequency metrology to other spectral regions, such as the extreme ultraviolet (XUV). High-power frequency combs at the fundamental wavelength can efficiently drive nonlinear frequency conversions. Low phase noise is an important requirement because the frequency conversion process not only multiplies the carrier frequency but also the phase fluctuations. In this work, we have developed a low-noise frequency comb centered at 1030 nm with an average power of 230 W, a temporal pulse duration of 59 fs, and a peak power of 32 MW. One of the modes of the seed laser is phase-locked to a continuous wave reference laser stabilized to an ultra-stable high-finesse cavity. The residual integrated phase noise from 10 Hz to 10 MHz is 41 mrad, which is sufficiently low to address narrow transitions with kHz-level linewidths after the frequency conversion to XUV wavelengths.