It’s perfect “timing” for optical frequency combs

Abstract: Optical frequency combs, with their unique features in both the time and frequency domains, have transformed precision science and engineering over the last two decades. In this talk, I will present on the latest progress in the ultralow-noise frequency combs and their applications, focusing particularly on precision timing, synchronization, and microwave/mm-wave photonics. My group has successfully demonstrated mode-locked fiber lasers and silica micro-combs with quantum-limited timing jitter [1,2]. We have also developed methods to stabilize the timing of these comb sources using compact and robust fiber photonic techniques [3,4,5]. Leveraging such ultralow-noise, compact and robust comb sources, we have demonstrated new timing applications including laser-RF-THz synchronization for ultrafast electron diffraction [6,7], attosecond electronic pulse timing [8], on-chip clock distribution networks [9], ultrafast and sub-nm-precision time-of-flight sensors [10], 3D dynamic imaging [11], and microwave/mm-wave signal generation and distribution for radio astronomy [12]. In addition to presenting our latest results, I am eager to discuss potential collaboration opportunities that leverage our combined interests and strengths. 

[1] J. Kim et al, “Ultralow-noise mode-locked fiber lasers and frequency combs: principles, status and applications,” Adv. Opt. Photon. 8, 465-540 (2016).
[2] D. Jeong et al, “Ultralow-jitter silica microcomb,” Optica 7, 1108-1111 (2020).
[3] D. Kwon et al, “Generation of multiple ultrastable optical frequency combs from an all-fiber photonic platform,” Sci. Adv. 6, eaax4457 (2020).
[4] D. Kwon et al, “Ultrastable microwave and soliton-pulse generation from fibre-photonic-stabilized microcombs,” Nature Commun. 13, 381 (2022).
[5] I. Jeon et al, “Palm-sized, vibration-insensitive and vacuum-free all-fiber-photonic module for 10-14-level stabilization of CW lasers and frequency combs,” APL Photonics 8, 120804 (2023).
[6] H. Kim et al, "Towards jitter-free ultrafast electron diffraction technology," Nature Photon. 14, 245 (2020).
[7] J. Shin et al, “Sub-10-fs timing for ultrafast electron diffraction with THz-driven streak camera,” Laser Photon. Rev. 15, 2000326 (2021).
[8] M. Hyun et al, “Attosecond electronic timing with rising edges of photocurrent pulses,” Nature Commun. 11, 3667 (2020).
[9] M. Hyun et al, “Femtosecond-precision electronic clock distribution in CMOS chips injected by frequency comb-extracted photocurrent pulses,” Nature Commun. 14, 2345 (2023).
[10] Y. Na et al, “Ultrafast, sub-nanometre-precision and multifunctional time-of-flight detection,” Nature Photon. 14, 355-360 (2020).
[11] Y. Na et al, “Massively parallel electro-optic sampling of space-encoded optical pulses for ultrafast multi-dimensional imaging,” Light Sci. Appl. 12, 44 (2023).
[12] M. Hyun et al, “Optical frequency comb-based generation and distribution of ultralow-noise radio-frequency single-tone and comb signals at a very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) radio telescope," in preparation.