Microwave

Engineering

Frequency domain

Frequency comb

Optical frequency comb

Telecommunications

Computer science

Laser

Physics

Optics

Terahertz radiation

Electronic engineering

Computer vision

Communications Physics

Optical frequency combs were developed nearly two decades ago to support the world’s most precise atomic clocks. Acting as precision optical synthesizers, frequency combs enable the precise transfer of phase and frequency information from a high-stability reference to hundreds of thousands of tones in the optical domain. This versatility, coupled with near-continuous spectroscopic coverage from microwave frequencies to the extreme ultra-violet, has enabled precision measurement capabilities in both fundamental and applied contexts. This review takes a tutorial approach to illustrate how 20 years of source development and technology has facilitated the journey of optical frequency combs from the lab into the field.

20 years of developments in optical frequency comb technology and applications