Period doubling in optical frequency combs

This thesis project explores period doubling in optical frequency combs, an area with limited prior research. An optical frequency comb can be used in telecommunications and high-precision metrologyand is a coherent set of discrete, equidistant frequency components generated from a central pumplaser frequency. To simulate the combs and the evolution of the intracavity field, the Ikeda map and two coupled mean-field equations for the period doubling regime are employed. The equations ofthese mathematical models are first derived, followed by an analytical investigation of the modulationinstability in the period doubling regime. Furthermore, the period doubling regime is simulated numerically to investigate stability and the generation of various comb patterns. During the simulations, the initial pump power is held constant while the detuning is varied. It is found that the energy was highest where the eigenvalue had the biggest real part from the analytical investigation. Additionalinstabilities is shown in results from simulations with normal dispersion.