All polarization-maintaining fiber-based frequency combs

The femtosecond optical frequency comb is becoming an increasingly valuable research field in laser optics. In recent years, all polarization-maintaining (PM) fiber-based lasers and optical frequency combs have achieved rapid growth owing to the continuous improvement of both PM-fiber and device fabrication technology. Herein, the development of all PM-fiber-based optical frequency combs is reviewed from a technical perspective. First, the basic principle, framework, and key components of an optical frequency comb arc briefly introduced, and each key technology of the frequency comb, such as self-started mode-locking, is discussed. Second, several methods for pulse amplification and pulse compression arc described, such as chirpcd-pulsc amplification, nonlinear amplification, and divided-pulse amplification. Third, supcrcontinuum generation and sclf-rcfcrcnccd intcrfcromctry technology related to carrier phase offsct(/n) locking arc introduced, and the f o signal with a signal to noise ratio (SNR) as high as 40 dB is experimentally demonstrated. Finally, the methods for locked repetition frcqucncics(/r) and fo signals arc illustrated.