Methods and apparatus for generating a frequency comb and for its use in
analyzing materials and in telecommunications. The frequency comb is generated
by passing pulsed light from a laser through an optical fiber having a constriction.
The frequency comb comprises a plurality of monochromatic components separated
in frequency by a substantially constant frequency increment. The monochromatic
components are used to probe materials for analysis. In preferred embodiments,
the materials are DNA, RNA, PNA and other biologically important molecules and
polymers. Optical responses are observed and used to analyze or identify samples.
In telecommunication applications, the individual monochromatic components serve
as carriers for individual communication channels that can carry information of
any of a variety of types, such as voice, data and images.
