Broadband Optical Serrodyne Frequency Shifting

Authors :: Johnson, D. M. S.
Hogan, J. M.
Chiow, S. -w.
Kasevich, M. A.
Publication Year :: 2009
Abstract: We demonstrate serrodyne frequency shifting of light from 200 MHz to 1.2 GHz with an efficiency of better than 60 percent. The frequency shift is imparted by an electro-optic phase modulator driven by a high-frequency, high-fidelity sawtooth waveform that is passively generated by a commercially available Non-Linear Transmission Line (NLTL). We also implement a push-pull configuration using two serrodyne-driven phase modulators allowing for continuous tuning between -1.6 GHz and +1.6 GHz. Compared to competing technologies, this technique is simple and robust, and offers the largest available tuning range in this frequency band.<br />Comment: 3 pages, 4 figures