Integrated optical frequency comb and its applications from classical to quantum information

Abstract

. Integrated optical frequency combs (IOFCs), generally generated in on-chip microcavities via Kerr nonlinearity, deliver dense spectra of phase-locked, equidistant frequency tones and have become a critical enabling platform for diverse applications. Recent research progress demonstrates that chip-scale IOFCs outperform conventional bulk laser comb sources in compactness, scalability, and power efficiency, greatly promoting the miniaturization of diverse photonic information systems. Beyond prominent performance in classical scenarios, IOFCs possess indispensable application value for quantum technologies. This review concentrates on the recent progress and practical applications of IOFCs in emerging quantum technologies. We first overview the recent progress of IOFC technology and its typical applications in classical scenarios. Then, we summarize the latest advances of IOFCs in quantum information and metrology applications, including quantum communication, quantum computing, and optical atomic clocks. Furthermore, we discuss recent developments in non-classical quantum frequency combs (QFCs) generated in on-chip optical microresonators, as well as the application of quantum measurement techniques for characterizing and improving classical IOFC performance. Finally, we discuss the remaining challenges and future opportunities towards fully integrated quantum photonic systems enabled by optical frequency comb technologies.