Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

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

  • Published:
Applied Physics B Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

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 lasers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Haus HA, Mecozzi A (1993) IEEE J. Quantum Electron. QE-29:983

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Paschotta R (2004) Appl. Phys. B 79:163

    Google Scholar 

  3. Telle HR, Steinmeyer G, Dunlop AE, Stenger J, Sutter DH, Keller U (1999) Appl. Phys. B 69:327

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Helbing FW, Steinmeyer G, Keller U (2003) IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 9:1030

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Paschotta R (2004) Appl. Phys. B 79:153

    Google Scholar 

  6. Mehendale M, Mitchell SA, Likforman JP, Villeneuve DM, Corkum PB (2000) Opt. Lett. 25:1672

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Schawlow AL, Townes CH (1958) Phys. Rev. 112:1940

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Henry CH (1982) IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 18:259

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. R. Paschotta, U. Keller, H.R. Telle, Noise of solid state lasers. In Ultrafast Lasers, Technology and Applications, ed. by A. Sennarolgu (Marcel Dekker, New York, Basel 2005)

  10. Ho P-T (1985) IEEE J. Quantum Electron. QE-21:1806

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Rush DW, Burdge GL, Ho P-T (1986) IEEE J. Quantum Electron. QE-22:2088

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. Keller U, Miller DAB, Boyd GD, Chiu TH, Ferguson JF, Asom MT (1992) Opt. Lett. 17:505

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Keller U, Weingarten KJ, Kärtner FX, Kopf D, Braun B, Jung ID, Fluck R, Hönninger C, Matuschek N, Aus der Au J (1996) IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron. 2:435

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Paschotta R, Keller U (2001) Appl. Phys. B 73:653

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. Dudley JM, Coen S (2002) Opt Lett 27:1180

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. Fortier TM, Ye J, Cundiff ST (2002) Opt. Lett. 27:445

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. Telle HR, Lipphardt B, Stenger J (2002) Appl. Phys. B 74:1

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. Helbing FW, Steinmeyer G, Stenger J, Telle HR, Keller U (2002) Appl. Phys. B 74:35

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. Schlatter A, Rudin B, Zeller SC, Paschotta R, Spühler GJ, Krainer L, Haverkamp N, Telle HR, Keller U (2005) Opt. Lett. 30:1536

    Article  PubMed  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. E. Benkler, N. Haverkamp, H.R. Telle, R. Paschotta, B. Rudin, A. Schlatter, S.C. Zeller, G.J. Spühler, L. Krainer, U. Keller, Nearly quantum-limited noise of passively mode-locked 10-GHz Er:Yb:glass lasers. Paper presented at the Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, Baltimore, 2005

  21. Rodwell MJW, Weingarten KJ, Bloom DM, Baer T, Kolner BH (1986) Opt. Lett. 11:638

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. Rodwell MJW, Bloom DM, Weingarten KJ (1989) IEEE J. Quantum Electron. QE-25:817

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. Paschotta R, Rudin B, Schlatter A, Spühler GJ, Krainer L, Haverkamp N, Telle HR, Keller U (2005) Appl. Phys. B 80:185

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. Haverkamp N, Hundertmark H, Fallnich C, Telle HR (2004) Appl. Phys. B 78:321

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. Benkler E, Telle HR, Zach A, Tauser F (2005) Opt. Express 13:5662

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Quantum Electronics, Physics Department, ETH Zurich, Wolfgang-Pauli-Str. 16, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland

    R. Paschotta, A. Schlatter, S.C. Zeller & U. Keller

  2. Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Bundesallee 100, 38116, Braunschweig, Germany

    H.R. Telle

Authors
  1. R. Paschotta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Schlatter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S.C. Zeller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. H.R. Telle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. U. Keller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Paschotta.

Additional information

PACS

42.50.Lc; 42.60.Fc

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Paschotta, R., Schlatter, A., Zeller, S. et al. Optical phase noise and carrier-envelope offset noise of mode-locked lasers. Appl. Phys. B 82, 265–273 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-005-2041-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-005-2041-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation