Skip to main content

Advertisement

Springer Nature Link
Log in

Characterization of the noise in continuously operating mode-locked lasers

  • Invited Paper
  • Published:
Applied Physics B Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An experimental and theoretical investigation of the fluctuations of the pulses from continuous-wave mode-locked lasers is presented. It is shown that these fluctuations can be detected and quantitatively characterized from measurements of the power spectrum of the light intensity. Such power spectra can be measured with great accuracy by shining the laser output on a suitable photodetector and by processing the detector signal with the use of an electronic spectrum analyzer. Different types of noise such as fluctuations of the pulse energy, pulse repetition time, and pulse duration, can be readily recognized from their characteristic spectral signature. Experimental results of noise measurements are presented for a synchronously mode-locked dye laser pumped by an acousto-optically mode-locked argon ion laser, and also for a colliding pulse passively mode-locked dye laser.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

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. A short account of parts of this work has been published previously. See J. Kluge D. Wiechert, D. von der Linde: Opt. Commun.51, 271 (1984)

    Google Scholar 

  2. For a general reference, see, e.g., D.C. Champeny:Fourier Transform and Their Physical Applications (Academic London 1973)

    Google Scholar 

  3. See, e.g.:Ultrashort-Light Pulses, ed. by S.L.Shapiro, Topics Appl. Phys.18 (Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg 1977)

    Google Scholar 

  4. D.B. McDonald, J.L. Rossel, G.R. Fleming, IEEE J. QE17, 1134 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  5. D.M. McDonald, D. Waldeck, G.R. Fleming: Opt. Commun.34, 127 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  6. T.I. Kuznetsova: Sov. Phys. JEPT28, 1303 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  7. H. Klann, J. Kuhl, D. von der Linde: Opt. Commun.38, 390 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  8. J. Kluge, D. Wiechert D. von der Linde: Opt. Commun.45, 78 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

  9. J. Kluge: Doctoral dissertation, University of Essen (1984) unpublished

  10. R.L. Fork B.I. Green, C.V. Shank: Appl. Phys. Lett.38, 671 (1981)

    Google Scholar 

  11. D. Kühlke, T. Bonkhofer, U. Herpers, D. von der Linde: To be published

  12. W. Dietel, E. Döpel, D. Kühlke, B. Wilhelmi: Opt. Commun.43, 433 (1982)

    Google Scholar 

  13. J.J. Fontaine, W. Dietel, J.C. Diels: IEEE J QE19, 1467 (1983)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fachbereich Physik, Universität-GHS, D-4300, Essen 1, Fed. Rep. Germany

    D. von der Linde

Authors
  1. D. von der Linde
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

von der Linde, D. Characterization of the noise in continuously operating mode-locked lasers. Appl. Phys. B 39, 201–217 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00697487

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00697487

PACS