Low-noise amplification of dissipative Kerr soliton microcomb lines via optical injection locking lasers
Qiang Zhang, Boyuan Liu, Qin Wen, Jinhui Qin, Yong Geng, Qiang Zhou, Guangwei Deng, Kun Qiu, Heng Zhou
Abstract
The dissipative Kerr soliton microcomb provides a promising laser source for wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) communication systems thanks to its compatibility with chip integration. However, the soliton microcomb commonly suffers from a low-power level due to the intrinsically limited energy conversion efficiency from the continuous-wave pump laser to ultra-short solitary pulses. Here, we exploit laser injection locking to amplify and equalize dissipative Kerr soliton comb lines, superior gain factor larger than 30 dB, and optical-signal-to-noise-ratio (OSNR) as high as 60 dB obtained experimentally, providing a potential pathway to constitute a high-power chip-integrated WDM laser source for optical communications.