Recent developments in fiber-based optical frequency comb and its applications

Fiber-based optical frequency combs, characterized by compact configuration and outstanding optical properties, have been developed into state-of-the-art precision instruments which are no longer used just for optical frequency metrology, but for a number of applications, including optical clocks, attosecond science, exoplanet searches, medical diagnostics, physicochemical processes control and advanced manufacturing. This short perspective presents some of the milestones and highlights in the evolution of fiber-based optical frequency combs and the technical revolution that are brought by them for a wide range of applications. Along the way, both the challenges and opportunities in the future development of the fiber-based optical frequency comb technology have been described as well.