FFC-100 Fiber Frequency Comb
FFC-100 octave-spanning, fully stabilized fiber frequency comb
Vescent manufactures and sells the FFC-100 fiber frequency comb, a fully stabilizable, octave-spanning frequency comb. Through the precise control over the repetition rate (ƒrep), an optical reference frequency (ƒopt), and the carrier envelope offset frequency (ƒCEO), the FFC-100 allows the transfer of the exquisite stability of a high-performance laser to far-removed portions of the EM spectrum. The complete frequency comb is designed and built to ensure stable, low-phase noise operation with Allan Deviations supporting the next generation of optical clocks. Our unique oscillator design also makes it easy to precisely factory match the repetition rate of two (or more) frequency combs for multi-comb spectroscopy applications.
Vescent is a leading manufacturer and seller of frequency combs and control electronics offering compact, fieldable devices based on Telcordia-grade components for field deployment durability.
Features:
- Turn-key operation
- 1560 nm center wavelength
- >30 mW in supercontinuum
- Low phase & amplitude noise
- A single 2U 19″ rack-mounted enclosure
- ƒrep monitoring, control, and matching
- Input port for ƒopt
- Repetition rates from 80 MHz to 250 MHz
- Made in America
Applications:
- Time & frequency keeping & transfer
- Frequency ruler
- Dual- & multi-comb spectroscopy
- Quantum sensing, computing, & cryptography
- Low-phase noise rf generation
The FFC-100 from Vescent Photonics is a fully stabilized octave-spanning frequency comb with precise control over the repetition rate (ƒrep), optical reference (ƒopt), and the carrier envelope offset frequency (ƒCEO). At its core is passsively mode-locked erbium-doped fiber oscillator. A highly non-linear fiber broadens the spectrum and our unique ƒCEO lock detection reduces the size, weight, and power of the system. The complete FFC-100 frequency comb is designed and built to ensure stable, low-phase noise operation with Allan Deviations supporting the next generation of optical atomic clocks.
The FFC-100 was designed for low SWaP and turn-key, stable operation: A single 2U 19” rack mount chassis contains the oscillator, amplifier, pump lasers, supercontinuum generation module, and ƒCEO detection and lock as well as the drive electronics.
The simple oscillator mode locks at startup every time and the innovative passive SESAM mode-locker is specially designed for a robust, long life. Our unique oscillator design also makes it easy to precisely factory match the repetition rate of two (or more) FFC-100 combs for multi-comb spectroscopy experiments.
US Patent 11,462,881
The FFC-100 is made in America
Case Study
Transferring the Long-Term Stability of a GPS-Disciplined OCXO to Vescent’s FFC-100 Optical Frequency Comb by Repetition Rate Locking
We demonstrate a straightforward method of locking Vescent’s fiber frequency comb (FFC100) repetition rate to any user-supplied RF oscillator. See the case study
Whitepapers
Locking a RIO PLANEX Laser to the Vescent FFC-100 Fiber Frequency Comb
The fiber frequency comb is a tool with incredible versatility. One application is the use of a comb to transfer the stability of one CW laser to another with a frequency difference which lies outside the bandwidth of typical photodetectors. Download the white paper
Fully phase-stabilized 1 GHz turnkey frequency comb at 1.56 µm
See the case study by authors Daniel M. B. Lesko, Alexander J. Lind, Nazanin Hoghooghi, Abijith Kowligy, Henry Timmers, Pooja Sekhar, Benjamin Rudin, Florian Emaury, Gregory B. Rieker and Scott A. Diddams. With thanks also to their respective organisations at NIST, University of Colorado and Menhir Photonics.
Resources
What happens when you throw a weak laser into a frequency comb?
A team from the Joint Quantum Institute, from the University of Maryland, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the Laboratory for Physical Sciences, has designed and built brighter on-chip optical frequency combs using dissipative Kerr solitons. See the article
On Chip Frequency Combs and the Possibilities for Nonlinear Optics, Sensing, and Quantum Computing.
Learn how an on-chip electro-optic frequency comb, based on a coupled-resonator platform on thin-film lithium niobate, acts as an on-chip femtosecond pulse source - making it promising for nonlinear optics, sensing, and quantum computing. See the article
In the Media
FFC-100 featured in Laser Focus World
Video - Low SWaP-C Dual Frequency Combs for Time & Frequency Transfer
How Vescent proposes that frequency combs will develop the next generation of atomic clocks used in navigation, position and timing. Point of Contact Dr Kevin Knabe, Head of Research and Development at Vescent. See the video
FFC-100 Specifications
| Parameter | Min. | Typ. | Max. | Units | Comments |
| Center Wavelength | 1555 | 1565 | 1575 | nm | |
| Repetition Rate | 100 | 200 | MHz |
100 or 200 MHz Contact factory for other repetition rates. |
|
| Optical Powers | All connectors are PM FC/APC | ||||
| Oscillator Average Output Power | 0.01 | mW | >15 nm optical bandwidth | ||
| Amplifer Average Output power | 4 | mW | >30 nm optical Bandwidth | ||
| Supercontinuum Output Power | 20 | mW | 1000-2000 nm spectrum | ||
| RF Outputs | All connectors are SMA | ||||
| ƒCEO Signal-to-Noise Ratio | 35 | dB | 100 kHz RBW | ||
| ƒCEO Integrated Phase Noise | 1 | rad | 10 Hz-1 MHz | ||
| ƒCEO Frequency Stability2 | 5.0x10-17 | Unitless | At 1 s, in-loop Modified Allan Deviation | ||
| ƒopt Optical Input Power | 0.8 | mW | |||
| ƒopt Signal-to-Noise Ratio3 | 40 | dB | 100 kHz RBW | ||
| ƒopt Integrated Phase Noise3 | 300 | mrad | 10 Hz-1 MHz | ||
| ƒopt Frequency Stability2,3 | 5.0x10-17 | Unitless | At 1 s, in-loop Modified Allan Deviation | ||
| ƒrep Output Power Level | 0 | dBm | |||
| Frequency Transducers | |||||
| ƒCEO Tuning Range | frep (100 or 200) | MHz | Pump Current Tuning | ||
| ƒCEO Input Voltage Tuning Range | -5 | +5 | V | SMA Input | |
| ƒrep PZT Tuning Range | 30 | Hz | Depends on Repetition Rate. See temperature tuning spec allows for larger changes in ƒrep | ||
| ƒrep Input Voltage Tuning Range | 0 | +6 | V | SMA Input | |
| ƒrep Temprature Tuning Range | 25 | kHz | Touchscreen Control4 | ||
| ƒrep Temeprature Tuning Sensitivity | 1 | kHz/°C | Depends on Repetition Rate | ||
| Size, Weight, and Power | |||||
| Line Voltage | 100 | 230 | VAC | 50/60Hz | |
| Power Consumption | 50 | W | |||
| Weight | 5.5 | kg | |||
| Size | 12.3 | L | 2U rack mount, 43.5 cm Width x 10.5 cm Height x 27 cm Depth |
1 Does not include the SLICE-FPGA controller, which is sold separately.
2 Allan Deviation from zero-dead-time lambda counter with 1 s gate time.
3 Depends on user-supplied optical reference. Data given for 1 kHz 1560 nm reference laser with >0.1 mW input power when phase locked with a SLICE-FPGA.
4 Allows access to a slow servo correction mode that automatically changes oscillator cavity temperature so that the PZT is centered in its operating range.
