Making a Mini Laser Frequency Comb in Minutes

The video tutorial introduces a new technique for creating microresonators, which are small optical cavities that confine light. These are used at NIST for optical frequency metrology and creating optical frequency combs, which are precise tools for measuring light frequencies. Traditional comb technology is compared to new methods using millimeter-scale glass and low-power lasers, which are more compact and efficient. The video demonstrates the fabrication process using a carbon dioxide laser to shape glass, resulting in high-quality microcavities. The new techniques allow for a wide range of frequency comb spacings and have potential applications beyond the lab.

What is one of the primary uses of microresonators at NIST?

• To create large-scale optical systems

• For basic optical frequency metrology

• To measure sound frequencies

• For developing new types of lasers

What is a key characteristic of the teeth in an optical frequency comb?

• They are randomly arranged

• They vary in spacing

• They are spaced by an exact amount

• They are only visible under a microscope

What traditional technology is used for creating frequency combs?

• Continuous wave lasers

• Solid-state lasers

• Mode-locked femtosecond lasers

• Gas lasers

What material is used in the new fabrication technique for microcavities at NIST?

• Silicon

• Fused quartz glass

• Plastic

• Metal

What is a significant advantage of the new frequency comb technology developed at NIST?

• It is more expensive than traditional methods

• It can be created quickly and used outside the lab

• It requires high power lasers

• It is limited to laboratory use