Generation of flat power-envelope terahertz-wide modulation sidebands from a continuous-wave laser based on an external electro-optic phase modulator.

Flat power-envelope terahertz-wide modulation sidebands are generated by only electro-optic phase modulation of continuous-wave laser light. Generation and power equalization of widespread sidebands are realized simultaneously by spatial distribution of the modulation index within a laser beam cross section by use of simple domain-engineering processes in LiTaO3 electro-optic crystal. Generation of 46 sidebands spaced by 16.25 GHz within a -3-dB bandwidth (over a 1-THz span for a +/- 3-dB bandwidth) is demonstrated.