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Compact optical frequency comb systems

  • US 8,792,525 B2
  • Filed: 05/25/2012
  • Issued: 07/29/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2011
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A frequency comb laser generating an output pulse train characterized by having a repetition rate and a carrier envelope offset frequency, said laser comprising;

  • a laser cavity comprising a solid-state or a fiber gain medium;

    a mode locking mechanism configured for passive mode-locking,a pump source for optically pumping said gain medium, wherein said gain medium, in combination with said pump source, generates an intra-cavity optical beam in said laser cavity; and

    an intra-cavity optical element disposed external to said gain medium, said optical element configured as a graphene-based loss modulator to modulate the loss of said laser cavity and to modulate said carrier envelope offset frequency, the optical path length of said cavity, or both;

    said optical element comprising at least one layer of a material operatively connected to an electrical source, said cavity loss and/or optical path length modulation induced by electrical modulation of the transmission or reflection loss of the optical element with a time varying electric field generated by said electrical source and applied to said material, wherein said at least one layer of material is disposed between electrodes, and an intra-cavity optical beam is configured to pass through at least one of said electrodes.

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