近日，北京大学胡耀文团队研究了可编程谐振电光频率梳的通用动力学和微波控制。相关论文于2026年3月12日发表在《自然—物理学》杂志上。
电光频率梳是计量学和光谱学领域的基础性工具。具体而言，基于微谐振器的电光梳因能高效产生边带而脱颖而出，可用于实现高性能集成频率参考和脉冲光源。然而，这些器件通常被简化为最近邻腔模间的电光调制耦合，这种表观上的简洁性导致对其基础物理机制的探索有限，从而制约了其全部潜能的发挥。
研究组揭示了谐振式电光微梳的普适动力学机制，并利用薄膜铌酸锂光子平台，通过调制深度和光频失谐量的调控，刻画了非线性光学态的全空间分布。此外，还设计了腔模间的复杂长程耦合，实现了对所产生梳齿和脉冲的光谱-时域可编程整形。研究组取得了三项技术突破：重复率可调谐、超越传统标度律的梳齿带宽显著扩展，以及共振增强的平顶光谱。该研究结果为广泛定义的同步驱动腔基电光系统提供了物理层面的深刻见解，并将助力实现面向下一代光子学应用的电控及电增强型梳齿发生器。
附：英文原文
Title: Universal dynamics and microwave control of programmable resonant electro-optic frequency combs
Author: Song, Yunxiang, Lei, Tianqi, Xue, Yanyun, Cordaro, Andrea, Haas, Michael, Huang, Guanhao, Li, Xudong, Lu, Shengyuan, Magalhes, Letcia, Yang, Jiayu, Yeh, Matthew, Zhu, Xinrui, Sinclair, Neil, Gong, Qihuang, Hu, Yaowen, Lonar, Marko
Issue&Volume: 2026-03-12
Abstract: Electro-optic frequency combs are foundational for applications in metrology and spectroscopy. Specifically, microresonator-based electro-optic combs are distinguished by efficient sideband generation, enabling high-performance integrated frequency references and pulse sources. However, the apparent simplicity of these devices, often described by the electro-optic modulation-induced coupling of nearest-neighbour cavity modes, has resulted in limited investigations of their fundamental physics, thereby restricting their full potential. Here we uncover the universal dynamics underpinning resonant electro-optic microcombs and characterize the full space of nonlinear optical states, controlled by modulation depth and optical detuning using the thin-film lithium niobate photonic platform. Furthermore, we design complex long-range couplings between cavity modes to realize programmable spectro-temporal shaping of the generated combs and pulses. We achieve three technological advances: repetition-rate flexibility, substantial comb bandwidth extension beyond traditional scaling laws and resonantly enhanced flat-top spectrum. Our results provide physical insights for synchronously driven cavity-based electro-optic systems broadly defined, and will enable electrically controlled and electrically enhanced comb generators for next-generation photonic applications.
DOI: 10.1038/s41567-026-03198-3
Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41567-026-03198-3