Methods and apparatus for power-equalized optical frequency comb generation

A method of generating a frequency comb comprising:

• providing at least two input optical waves characterized by respective input frequencies separated from each other by a frequency spacing;
• mixing, via a first waveguide, the at least two input optical waves to provide a plurality of first optical waves characterized by respective first frequencies separated from each other by the frequency spacing, wherein each input optical wave has a constant amplitude and a constant frequency
• compressing, via a dispersive element concatenated to the first waveguide, the plurality of first optical waves to provide a plurality of first compressed optical waves;
• and
• mixing, via a second waveguide concatenated to the dispersive element, the plurality of first optical waves to generate a plurality of second optical waves characterized by respective second frequencies separated from each other by the frequency spacing, after the plurality of first optical waves are compressed by the dispersive element, wherein:
• the second waveguide is a dispersion-flattened waveguide;
• and
• the second waveguide has a physical length based on a width of a pulse of the plurality of first optical waves entering the second waveguide.

An optical device for generating a frequency comb, the optical device comprising:

• an optical source operable to provide at least two input optical waves characterized by a first input frequency and a second input frequency, respectively, wherein the first input frequency and the second input frequency are separated by a frequency spacing;
• and
• a first waveguide comprising a nonlinear optical medium, wherein:
• the nonlinear optical medium is characterized by a nonlinear optical response;
• and
• the nonlinear optical medium is operable to mix the at least two input optical waves to generate a plurality of first optical waves characterized by respective first frequencies separated from each other by the frequency spacing, wherein each input optical wave has a constant amplitude and a constant frequency;
• a dispersive element concatenated to the first waveguide;
• and
• a second waveguide concatenated to the dispersive element, wherein:
• the second waveguide comprises a nonlinear optical medium operable to mix the plurality of first optical waves to generate a plurality of second optical waves characterized by respective second frequencies separated from each other by the frequency spacing, after the plurality of first optical waves pass through the dispersive element;
• the second waveguide has a physical length based on a width of a pulse of the plurality of first optical waves entering the second waveguide;
• and
• the second waveguide is a dispersion-flattened waveguide.