Optical Frequency Comb synthesis for super channel based high-bandwidth data communication

Increasing demand for high bandwidth data communication requires development of innovative, reliable and scalable systems. Super-channels with Higher Order Modulation schemes will drive the next generation optical communication systems. The present work focusses on optical sources for such systems. Conventional implementations require hundreds of lasers and are not scalable; the proposed alternative is to develop and use an Optical Frequency Comb (a series of evenly spaced spectral components). Generating such a comb with precise spacing and stability is a challenge. This is addressed by system design using Electro-Optic Modulators and three lasers where we demonstrate a 24-line comb which is de-multiplexed to realize optical source for super channels. This is a scale up of number of carriers by a factor of 8.