Noise of mode-locked lasers (Part II): timing jitter and other fluctuations

This work present a comprehensive discussion of the noise properties of mode-locked lasers, with an emphasis on the effect of quantum noise in passively mode-locked solid-state lasers. Of special interest is the timing jitter, which is coupled to noise in various other pulse parameters. The study is based on analytical results and on numerical tools as described in part one of this study. It results in useful guidelines for the comparison and optimization of different kinds of lasers concerning timing jitte

Noise of mode-locked lasers (Part I): numerical model

A numerical model for the calculation of noise spectra of actively or passively mode-locked lasers has been developed. Fluctuations not only of the timing error, but also of all other quantities of interest can be quantified. The model is based on a pulse propagation algorithm with quantum noise sources. It allows the study of a much wider class of phenomena than those accessible with analytical techniques, and it is useful for testing the validity limits of analytical result

Efficient superfluorescent light sources with broad bandwidth

We demonstrate various efficient broad-band light sources at ~1µm wavelength with a 3dB bandwidth of up to 65nm at 108mW output power, based on rare-earth doped silica fibers and a simple adjustable spectral filter

Lifetime quenching in Yb doped fibres

We have discovered that in ytterbium-doped silica fibres the excited state lifetime of a fraction of the Yb ions can be quenched to a very small value, leading to a strong unbleachable loss. This unexpected behaviour seems to be caused by some, yet unidentified, impurity or structural defect. It is of considerable relevance for various Yb doped lasers and-amplifiers including Er:Yb codoped fibres as used in telecommunication amplifiers although it should also be emphasized that fibres can be produced that are free from the quenching effect

Stretched pulse Yb³⁺:silica fibre laser

We report what we believe to be the first results on short-pulse generation in Yb3+:silica fiber. By applying the stretched pulse technique in a unidirectional, polarization-switch Yb3+ fiber laser incorporating a prism-based dispersive delay line, we obtain self-start mode locking and 100pJ pulses that can be compressed to give clean chirp-free <100fs pulses. We believe such sources to have great potential for use not only in all-solid-state high-power femtosecond pulse systems based on Yb3+:silica glass but also as seeds for conventional Nd3+:glass amplifier chains

Simultaneous measurement of the phase noise on all optical modes of a mode-locked laser

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a method to simultaneously measure the relative phase noise of all modes of two mode-locked lasers. The method is based on the numerical analysis of a beat note of two lasers with slightly different pulse repetition rates. We carefully analyze and experimentally demonstrate the potential of this method. Compared to other methods, it has the unique advantage that it provides access to correlations of the phases of different mode

Single-frequency ytterbium-doped fibre laser stabilised by spatial hole burning

We have exploited spatial hole burning to achieve remarkably stable single-frequency operation and mode-hop-free tuning over 300 free spectral ranges in an ytterbium-doped fiber laser with a sample standing-wave geometry. This approach makes possible stable and narrow-linewidth single-frequency fiber lasers that do not require components such as Faraday isolators, fiber couplers, and Fabry-Perot filters

Optical phase noise and carrier-envelope offset noise of mode-locked lasers

The timing jitter, optical phase noise, and carrier-envelope offset (CEO) noise of passively mode-locked lasers are closely related. New key results concern analytical calculations of the quantum noise limits for optical phase noise and CEO noise. Earlier results for the optical phase noise of actively mode-locked lasers are generalized, particularly for application to passively mode-locked lasers. It is found, for example, that mode locking with slow absorbers can lead to optical linewidths far above the Schawlow-Townes limit. Furthermore, mode-locked lasers can at the same time have nearly quantum-limited timing jitter and a strong optical excess phase noise. A feedback timing stabilization via cavity length control can, depending on the situation, reduce or greatly increase the optical phase noise, while not affecting the CEO noise. Besides presenting such findings, the paper also tries to clarify some basic aspects of phase noise in mode-locked laser

Passively mode-locked 40-GHz Er:Yb:glass laser

A diode-pumped Er:Yb:glass miniature laser has been passively mode-locked to generate transform-limited 4.3-ps pulses with a 40-GHz repetition rate and 18-mW average powe