Optical frequency comb technology: from ground to space

Optical frequency combs, as powerful tools for precision spectroscopy and research into optical frequency standards, have driven continuous progress and significant breakthroughs in applications such as time-frequency transfer, measurement of fundamental physical constants, and high-precision ranging, achieving a series of milestone results in ground-based environments. With the continuous maturation and evolution of femtosecond lasers and related technologies, optical frequency combs are moving from ground-based applications to astronomical and space-based applications, playing an increasingly important role in atomic clocks, exoplanet observations, gravitational wave measurements, and other areas. This paper, focusing on astronomical and space-based applications, reviews research progress on astronomical frequency combs, optical clock time-frequency networks, gravitational waves, dark matter measurement, dual-comb large-scale absolute ranging, and high-resolution atmospheric spectroscopy. With enhanced performance and their gradual application in the field of space-based research, optical frequency combs will undoubtedly provide more powerful support for astronomical science and cosmic exploration in the future.