Versatile tuning of Kerr soliton microcombs in crystalline microresonators

Microresonator-based optical frequency combs emitted from high-quality-factor microresonators, also known as microcombs, have opened up new horizons to areas of optical frequency comb technology including frequency metrology, precision sensing, and optical communication. To extend the capability of microcombs for such applications, large and reliable tunability is of critical importance. Here, we show broad spectral tuning of Kerr soliton microcombs in a thermally controlled crystalline microresonator with pump-detuning stabilization. The fundamental elements composing frequency combs, namely the center frequency, repetition frequency, and carrier-envelope offset frequency, are spectrally tuned by up to -48.8 GHz, -5.85 MHz, and -386 MHz, respectively, leveraging thermal effects in ultrahigh-Q crystalline magnesium fluoride resonators. We further demonstrate a 3.4-fold enhancement of soliton comb power resulting from thermal expansion with a temperature change of only 28 K by employing quantitative analyses of the fiber-to-resonator coupling efficiency.

Automated summary

In this study, we demonstrate a method for broad spectral tuning of Kerr soliton microcombs in a thermally controlled crystalline microresonator with pump-detuning stabilization. Leveraging thermal effects in ultrahigh-Q crystalline magnesium fluoride resonators, the center frequency, repetition frequency, and carrier-envelope offset frequency of the frequency combs can be spectrally tuned. Furthermore, employing quantitative analyses of the fiber-to-resonator coupling efficiency, a 3.4-fold enhancement of soliton comb power is achieved with a temperature change of only 28 K.