TY - JOUR
AU - Steven Cundiff
AU - Jun Ye
AB - Recently there has been a remarkable synergy between the technologies of precision laser
stabilization and mode-locked ultrafast lasers. This has resulted in control of the frequency spectrum
produced by mode-locked lasers, which consists of a regular comb of sharp lines. Thus such a
controlled mode-locked laser is a ‘‘femtosecond optical frequency comb generator.’’ For a sufficiently
broad comb, it is possible to determine the absolute frequencies of all of the comb lines. This ability
has revolutionized optical frequency metrology and synthesis. It has also served as the basis for the
recent demonstrations of atomic clocks that utilize an optical frequency transition. In addition, it is
having an impact on time-domain applications, including synthesis of a single pulse from two
independent lasers. In this Colloquium, we first review the frequency-domain description of a
mode-locked laser and the connection between the pulse phase and the frequency spectrum in order
to provide a basis for understanding how the absolute frequencies can be determined and controlled.
Using this understanding, applications in optical frequency metrology and synthesis and optical atomic
clocks are discussed. This is followed by a brief overview of how the comb technology is affecting and
will affect time-domain experiments.
BT - Reviews of Modern Physics
DA - 2003-03
DO - 10.1103/RevModPhys.75.325
N2 - Recently there has been a remarkable synergy between the technologies of precision laser
stabilization and mode-locked ultrafast lasers. This has resulted in control of the frequency spectrum
produced by mode-locked lasers, which consists of a regular comb of sharp lines. Thus such a
controlled mode-locked laser is a ‘‘femtosecond optical frequency comb generator.’’ For a sufficiently
broad comb, it is possible to determine the absolute frequencies of all of the comb lines. This ability
has revolutionized optical frequency metrology and synthesis. It has also served as the basis for the
recent demonstrations of atomic clocks that utilize an optical frequency transition. In addition, it is
having an impact on time-domain applications, including synthesis of a single pulse from two
independent lasers. In this Colloquium, we first review the frequency-domain description of a
mode-locked laser and the connection between the pulse phase and the frequency spectrum in order
to provide a basis for understanding how the absolute frequencies can be determined and controlled.
Using this understanding, applications in optical frequency metrology and synthesis and optical atomic
clocks are discussed. This is followed by a brief overview of how the comb technology is affecting and
will affect time-domain experiments.
PY - 2003
SP - 325
EP - 342
T2 - Reviews of Modern Physics
TI - Colloquium: Femtosecond optical frequency combs
VL - 75
SN - 0034-6861
ER -