Coherence properties of Kerr frequency combs

Abstract

We use numerical simulations based on an extended Lugiato-Lefever equation (LLE) to investigate the stability properties of Kerr frequency combs generated in microresonators. In particular, we show that an ensemble average calculated over sequences of output fields separated by a fixed number of resonator roundtrips allows the coherence of Kerr combs to be quantified in terms of the complex-degree of first-order coherence. We identify different regimes of comb coherence, linked to the solutions of the LLE. Our approach provides a practical and unambiguous way of assessing the stability of Kerr combs that is directly connected to an accessible experimental quantity.