Abstract
Optical microcombs represent a new paradigm for generating laser
frequency combs based on compact chip-scale devices, which have
underpinned many modern technological advances for both fundamental
science and industrial applications. Along with the surge in activity
related to optical micro-combs in the past decade, their applications
have also experienced rapid progress ‒ not only in traditional fields
such as frequency synthesis, signal processing, and optical
communications, but also in new interdisciplinary fields spanning the
frontiers of light detection and ranging (LiDAR), astronomical
detection, neuromorphic computing, and quantum optics. This paper
reviews the applications of optical microcombs. First, an overview of
the devices and methods for generating optical microcombs is provided,
which are categorized into material platforms, device architectures,
soliton classes, and driving mechanisms. Second, the broad applications
of optical microcombs are systematically reviewed, which are categorized
into microwave photonics, optical communications, precision
measurements, neuromorphic computing, and quantum optics. Finally, the
current challenges and future perspectives are discussed.