RESUMO
We demonstrate a single-stage, multipass Ti:sapphire amplifier capable of delivering sub-13 fs, 3.2 mJ pulses at a 1 kHz repetition rate. Gaussian filters are used to suppress the gain-narrowing effect, thereby enabling the achievement of an ultrabroadband flat-top spectrum with a FWHM>130 nm. The carrier-envelope phase (CEP) of the output pulses is actively stabilized via the feed-forward scheme (for the oscillator) and a fast 1 kHz f-to-2f interferometer, which corrects the amplifier-induced CEP drift. The single-shot 75 h CEP measurement yielded rms noise of <150 mrad.
RESUMO
A power-scalable concept for carrier-envelope-phase stabilization is presented. It takes advantage of simultaneous pumping of the zero- and first-phonon absorption line of Yb:YAG at 969 and 940 nm. The concept was implemented to lock the carrier-envelope-offset frequency of a 45 W average power Kerr-lens mode-locked thin-disk oscillator. The lock performance is compared to previous experiments where carrier-envelope-stabilization was realized by means of cavity loss modulation.
RESUMO
We introduce and experimentally validate a pulse picking technique based on a travelling-wave-type acousto-optic modulator (AOM) having the AOM carrier frequency synchronized to the repetition rate of the original pulse train. As a consequence, the phase noise characteristic of the original pulse train is largely preserved, rendering this technique suitable for applications requiring carrier-envelope phase stabilization. In a proof-of-principle experiment, the 1030-nm spectral part of an 74-MHz, carrier-envelope phase stable Ti:sapphire oscillator is amplified and reduced in pulse repetition frequency by a factor of two, maintaining an unprecedentedly low carrier-envelope phase noise spectral density of below 68 mrad. Furthermore, a comparative analysis reveals that the pulse-picking-induced additional amplitude noise is minimized, when the AOM is operated under synchronicity. The proposed scheme is particularly suitable when the down-picked repetition rate is still in the multi-MHz-range, where Pockels cells cannot be applied due to piezoelectric ringing.
RESUMO
The origin of a 1/f noise contribution in the long-term carrier-envelope phase (CEP) measurements of mode-locked lasers is discussed. Using two different collinear interferometers for the out-of-loop characterization of feed-forward stabilized Ti:sapphire oscillators, we suppress a possible technical origin of 1/f noise to the extent possible. Both measurements indicate a lower limit of CEP frequency noise of 1 mHz/âHz. Investigating several possible origins of this noise floor, we find a good agreement with a quantum noise mechanism that is directly induced by intracavity-amplified spontaneous emission (ASE). These findings enable direct access to ASE noise in short-pulse oscillators, which is very hard to characterize via repetition rate fluctuations. Finally, we discuss the possible consequences for frequency-comb-based timekeeping and frequency metrology, as well as for attosecond science.
RESUMO
The demand for ever shorter light pulses presents a challenge to the detection and stabilization of the carrier-envelope phase (CEP) in amplifier systems. Here we present a combination of single-shot detection and a fast actuator that is capable of measuring and correcting the CEP in every single shot emitted by a millijoule-scale, multi-kHz femtosecond laser amplifier. The residual CEP noise within 50 s amounts to 98 mrad rms in-loop (fast detection, 5·105 shots) and 140 mrad out-of-loop (slow detection, 6250 shots), approaching the noise floor of the f-to-2f measurement. Both values represent a twofold improvement of the CEP stability over previously published results in comparable systems.
RESUMO
We demonstrate a simple and robust single-shot interferometric technique that allows the in situ measurement of intensity-dependent phase changes experienced by ultrashort laser pulses upon nonlinear propagation. The technique is applied to the characterization of carrier-envelope phase noise in hollow fiber compressors both in the pressure gradient and in the static cell configuration. Measurements performed simultaneously with conventional f-to-2f interferometers before and after compression indicate that the noise emerging in the waveguide adds up arithmetically to the phase noise of the amplifier, thus being strongly correlated to the phase noise of the pulses coupled into the compressor.
RESUMO
A method for improved performance of feed-forward carrier-envelope phase stabilization in amplified laser sources is presented and experimentally demonstrated. The phase stabilization scheme is applicable for a broad range of repetition rates spanning from subhertz to 100 kHz. The method relies on driving an acousto-optic frequency shifter by few-cycle transients. The phase of these transients suitably controls the grating phase of the generated index grating inside the shifter material. This approach removes beam pointing as well as amplitude noise issues observed in continuously driven feed-forward schemes. The synthesis of these gratings can be understood as the acoustic equivalent of mode-locking or acoustic frequency combs.
RESUMO
The feed-forward technique has recently revolutionized carrier-envelope phase (CEP) stabilization, enabling unprecedented values of residual phase jitter. Nevertheless, its demonstrations have hitherto remained in a proof-of-principle state. Here we show that pulse quality and power issues can be solved, leading to few-cycle pulses with good beam quality. Making use of stable interferometers, we achieve day-long CEP-stable operation of the setup. Out-of-loop RMS phase noise amounts to less than 30 mrad in 20 s, with more than 24 h of CEP-locked operation being demonstrated.
