Modulating Photonic Crystal Structures to Generate Optical Frequency Combs

A commonly used technique to generate an optical frequency comb (OFC) generation is to cascade intensity and phase electro-optical modulators [1]. Nanoscale all-optical devices can also achieve intensity and phase modulation, however the use of these modulators to generate OFCs has hitherto not been addressed. In this paper a mathematical model is introduced to simulate an all-optical modulator, based on temporal coupled mode theory. The techniques used in electro-optical modulators to generate an OFC are then extended to function on the nanoscale. Using this model, it is theoretically demonstrated that all-optical modulation of a nanophotonic device can generate an OFC.