Abstract
Optical arbitrary waveform generation using the line-by-line pulse shaping technique has been shown to be sensitive to variations in the offset frequency of the input frequency comb due to time-domain waveform interference. Here we present a frequency-domain model that is able to predict waveform changes arising from offset frequency variations. In experiments we controllably shift the frequency of a comb derived from a phase-modulated CW laser, which allows us to quantitatively investigate waveforms generated by pulse shaping as a function of offset frequency. Experimental data are in excellent agreement with the predictions of our frequency-domain model. In addition, we propose and analyze new waveforms designed for monitoring of offset frequency variations by pulse shaping. © 2006 Optical Society of America.