Narrow-linewidth chirped frequency comb from a frequency-shifted feedback Ti:sapphire laser seeded by a phase-modulated single-frequency fiber laser

Frequency-shifted feedback (FSF) lasers have emerged as powerful tools for precision distance metrology. At the output of a Michelson interferometer, the detected rf spectra of the FSF laser light contain a length-dependent heterodyne beat signal whose linewidth ultimately limits the achievable accuracy of length measurements. Here, we demonstrate a narrow-linewidth chirped frequency comb from an FSF Ti:sapphire ring laser seeded by a phase-modulated, ultra-low-phase-noise, single-frequency fiber laser. We experimentally investigate the influence of the seed laser linewidth on the resulting width and shape of the length-dependent rf beat signal. An ultranarrow heterodyne beat linewidth of <20 Hz is observed.