Repetition-Rate Multiplication of an Electrooptic Pulse Source Using the Temporal Talbot Effect: A Theoretical Analysis

Spectral line-by-line control of an optical frequency comb derived from a sinusoidally phase-modulated continuous-wave laser allows to generate a pulse train with repetition rate equal to the modulation frequency. Here, we study pulse repetition-rate multiplication by an integer factor using the temporal Talbot effect. We show that pedestals and/or satellite pulses present in the fundamental pulse train lead, in general, to multiplied trains with significant distortions. Optimum modulation conditions for generation of output pulse trains with minimum peak-to-peak pulse intensity variations and/or maximum extinction level are numerically analyzed.