Practical application of cross correlation technique to measure jitter of master-oscillator-power-amplifier (MOPA) laser system

The Linac coherent light source (LCLS) at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC) is the world’s first hard X-ray free electron laser (XFEL) and is capable of producing high-energy, femtosecond duration X-ray pulses. A common technique to study fast timescale physical phenomena, various “pump/probe” techniques are used. In these techniques there are two lasers, one optical and one X-ray, that work as a pump and as a probe to study dynamic processes in atoms and molecules. In order to resolve phenomena that occur on femtosecond timescales, it is imperative to have very precise timing between the optical lasers and X-rays (on the order of ～20 fs or better). The lasers are synchronized to the same RF source that drives the accelerator and produces the X-ray laser. However, elements in the lasers cause some drift and time jitter, thereby de-synchronizing the system. This paper considers cross-correlation technique as a way to quantify the drift and jitter caused by the regenerative amplifier of the ultrafast optical laser.     

Generation of doublet spectral lines at self-seeded X-ray FELs

Self-seeding schemes, consisting of two undulators with a monochromator in between, aim to reduce the bandwidth of SASE X-ray FELs. We recently proposed to use a new method of monochromatization exploiting a single crystal in Bragg transmission geometry for self-seeding in the hard X-ray range. The obvious and technically possible extension is to use such kind of monochromator setup with two (or more) crystals arranged in a series to spectrally filter the SASE radiation at two (or more) closely-spaced wavelengths within the FEL gain band. This allows for the production of doublet (or multiplet) spectral lines. Exploitations of such mode of operation involve any situation where there is a large change in cross-section over a narrow wavelength range. In this paper we consider the simultaneous operation of the LCLS hard X-ray FEL at two closely spaced wavelengths. We present simulation results for the LCLS baseline, and we show that this method can produce fully coherent radiation shared between two longitudinal modes. Mode spacing can be easily tuned within the FEL gain band, i.e. within 10 eV. An interesting aspect of the proposed scheme is a way of modulating the electron bunch at optical frequencies without a seed quantum laser. In fact, the XFEL output intensity contains an oscillating “mode-beat” component whose frequency is related to the frequency difference between the pair of longitudinal modes considered. Thus, at saturation one obtains FEL-induced modulations of energy loss and energy spread in the electron bunch at optical frequency. These modulations can be converted into density modulation at the same optical frequency with the help of a weak chicane installed behind the baseline undulator. Powerful coherent radiation can then be generated with the help of an optical transition radiation (OTR) station, which have important applications. In this paper we briefly consider how the doublet structure of the XFEL generation spectra can be monitored by an optical spectrometer. Furthermore, the OTR coherent radiation pulse is naturally synchronized with the X-ray pulses, and can be used for timing the XFEL to high power conventional lasers with femtosecond accuracy for pump-probe applications.     

Software for the data analysis of the arrival‐timing monitor at SACLA

X‐ray free‐electron laser (XFEL) pulses from SPring‐8 Ångstrom Compact free‐electron LAser (SACLA) with a temporal duration of <10 fs have provided a variety of benefits in scientific research. In a previous study, an arrival‐timing monitor was developed to improve the temporal resolution in pump–probe experiments at beamline 3 by rearranging data in the order of the arrival‐timing jitter between the XFEL and the synchronized optical laser pulses. This paper presents Timing Monitor Analyzer (TMA), a software package by which users can conveniently obtain arrival‐timing data in the analysis environment at SACLA. The package is composed of offline tools that pull stored data from cache storage, and online tools that pull data from a data‐handling server in semi‐real time during beam time. Users can select the most suitable tool for their purpose, and share the results through a network connection between the offline and online analysis environments.     

Active synchronization of two mode-locked lasers with optical cross correlation

Two mode-locked Ti:sapphire lasers of different wavelengths were precisely synchronized by a simple feedback system employing sum-frequency generation (cross correlation). When the timing error exceeded the pulse duration, the periodic bunch of the sum-frequency pulse was used for rough timing adjustment. Using cross correlation with a stretched pulse, we struck a balance between wide locking range and sensitive timing detection. When the two lasers were well-synchronized, we obtained a continuous cross-correlation pulse train for 3 min. The holding time of the laser synchronization was extended to over one hour by adding a motorized stage to the PZT-mounted cavity mirror. We estimated the rms timing jitter between the two lasers by a scanning cross-correlation measurement. We confirmed that the rms timing jitter of the two lasers during 1.8 s was 28 fs. Received: 30 January 2002 / Revised version: 14 June 2002 / Published online: 8 August 2002     

SXFEL阻抗壁尾场对束流相空间畸变的影响

X射线自由电子激光器（FEL）由于其超高亮度、超短脉冲等特点,在世界范围内得到广泛应用。 基于尾流场理论,我们计算了上海X射线自由电子激光器（SXFEL）中从直线加速器出口到波荡器末端,束流在245 m不锈钢传输线和波荡器中的阻抗壁尾场。通过对两种不同的阻抗壁尾场的叠加,发现将导致束流纵向相空间的畸变。在SXFEL上进行束流物理的实验,并得到与理论预测非常吻合的实验结果。 结合之前对主要直线加速器部分的详细模拟和实验研究,为后续FEL整体束流优化提供了参考。     

Ultralow-jitter and -amplitude-noise semiconductor-based actively mode-locked laser

We report a semiconductor-based, low-noise, 10.24 GHz actively mode-locked laser with 4.65 fs of relative timing jitter and a 0.0365% amplitude fluctuation (1 Hz to 100 MHz) of the optical pulse train. The keys to obtaining this result were the laser's high optical power and the low phase noise of the rf source used to mode lock the laser. The low phase noise of the rf source not only improves the absolute and relative timing jitter of the laser, but also prevents coupling of the rf source phase noise to the pulse amplitude fluctuations by the mode-locked laser.     

光阴极微波电子枪中时间抖动对粒子动力学的影响

对光阴极微波电子枪粒子束性能起决定性影响的因素之一就是激光脉冲相对加速微波相位的时间抖动. 对这种时间抖动的测量和反馈控制进行了理论和实验分析, 并对时间抖动对束流品质的影响进行了模拟研究, 得到了利用锁相环回路降低激光脉冲相位噪声的实验经验, 为光阴极微波电子枪中激光与微波相位同步问题提出了解决方法.     

Thomson backscattering X-rays from ultra-relativistic electron bunches and temporally shaped laser pulses

The process of Thomson scattering of an ultra-intense laser pulse by a relativistic electron bunch has been proposed as a way to obtain a bright source of short, tunable and quasi-monochromatic X-ray pulses. The real applicability of such a method depends crucially on the electron-beam quality, the angular and energetic distributions playing a relevant role. In this paper we present the computation of the Thomson-scattered radiation generated by a plane-wave, linearly polarized and flat-top laser pulse, incident on a counterpropagating electron bunch having a sizable angular divergence and a generic energy distribution. Both linear and nonlinear Thomson-scattering regimes are considered and the impact of the rising front of the pulse on the scattered-radiation distribution has been taken into account. Simplified relations valid for long laser pulses and small values of both scattering angle and bunch divergence are also reported. Finally, we apply the results to the cases of backscattering with electron bunches typically produced with both standard radio-frequency-based accelerators and laser–plasma accelerators.     

清华大学汤姆逊散射超短脉冲X射线源研究

 介绍了清华大学加速器实验室近年来关于汤姆逊散射超短X射线源的研究工作;研究了在任意散射角度下电子束参数和激光束参数对散射光子参数的影响,给出了散射光子的参数如光子产额、脉冲长度、时间抖动等与电子束参数、激光束参数和散射角度的关系;利用实验室已有的16 MeV反波行波加速器与中国工程物理研究院激光聚变研究中心提供的ns调Q激光搭建了汤姆逊散射初步实验平台并开展了实验研究;加工了1.6-cell光阴极微波电子枪,搭建了高功率实验平台,对产生的电子束参数进行了初步测量;对汤姆逊散射超短X射线源进行了设计并开展了相关的平台建设工作,对产生的X射线脉冲参数进行了模拟。     

XFEL飞秒同步与定时系统中光纤长度变化的数字化监测(英)

分析了X射线自由电子激光装置对飞秒同步定时系统的技术需求。系统中采用光纤来传输定时/相位信息。而光纤的光长度会随温度的慢漂而改变,因此通过对比实验研究了温度慢漂对光纤长度变化的影响。研制了基于现场可编程门阵列（FPGA）的数字化相位和幅度检测器对光纤长度变化进行数据监测。百米光纤在典型昼夜温差下导致的时间延迟约6 ps。结果显示此数字化相位和幅度检测器可以用于飞秒同步定时系统的长度变化监测和稳定控制系统当中。     

Passively mode-locked glass waveguide laser with 14-fs timing jitter

Ultralow jitter pulse trains are produced from a passively mode-locked, erbium/ytterbium co-doped, planar waveguide laser by use of high-bandwidth feedback control acting on the physical cavity length and optical pump power. Synchronization of a 750-MHz, fundamentally mode-locked laser to an external clock signal yields an ultralow, root-mean-square relative timing jitter of 14.4 fs integrated from 10 Hz to the Nyquist frequency of 375 MHz.     

增益开关半导体激光器在外光注入下脉冲抖动的实验研究

采用增益开关半导体激光器作为注入种子光源来降低另一个增益开关DFB或Fabry-Perot（FP ）半导体激光器的脉冲抖动.相位噪声测量技术表明：增益开关FP激光器在外部脉冲光注入 下，激光脉冲抖动（均方值）由1.2ps降低至830fs；增益开关DFB半导体激光器在外脉冲注 入下，脉冲抖动由12ps降低至1.8ps. 关键词： 半导体激光器 光脉冲产生 时间抖动 光子注入     

外注入非制冷式FP半导体增益开关激光器产生低抖动光脉冲的实验研究

报道了低成本、非制冷法布里-玻罗腔半导体增益开光激光器稳定地产生超短脉冲的实验研究.通过使用外部连续光注入,增益开光激光器的脉冲抖动得到了有效的抑制.实验结果表,明当选择合适功率的连续光注入到非制冷半导体增益开关激光器腔内,可以稳定地产生脉宽26 ps、抖动低于400 fs、重复频率2.5 GHz的脉冲序列.     

Ultralow-noise mode-locked optical pulse trains from an external cavity laser based on a slab coupled optical waveguide amplifier (SCOWA)

We report the generation of optical pulse trains with 8.5 fs timing jitter (10 Hz to 10 MHz) from a mode-locked semiconductor laser, with a slab coupled optical waveguide amplifier used as the gain element. This is, to our knowledge, the lowest residual timing jitter reported to date from an actively mode-locked laser.     

基于阿秒抖动光纤锁模激光器的时钟同步

光纤锁模激光器结构简单, 运转稳定, 且输出的超短脉冲序列具有极高的时钟稳定性, 在抽运探测、脉冲相干合成等要求高精度时钟同步的前沿领域有着广阔的应用前景. 本文通过激光器腔内的电光调制器进行反馈控制, 实现了两台光纤锁模激光器之间的紧密时钟信号同步; 并且通过平衡光学互相关方法, 对残余的时钟误差信号进行了测量, 分辨率达到了13 as. 通过优化激光器的腔内动力学过程及反馈环路的参数, 在[1 Hz, 10 MHz]的积分区间内得到了109 as的残余时钟误差, 对应单台激光器的平均时间抖动为77 as.     

Low Timing Jitter and Tunable Dual-Wavelength Picosecond Pulse Generation from a Fabry--Pérot Laser Diode with External Injection

A novel scheme to generate tunable dual-wavelength optical pulses with low timing jitter at arbitrary repetition rates is proposed and demonstrated experimentally. The pulses are generated from a gain-switched Fabry-Pérot laser diode with two external cw beams for injection seeding simultaneously. The cw light is generated by two independent distributed feedback laser diodes, and their wavelengths can be tuned independently by two temperature controllers. The dual-wavelength pulses with the pulse width of 57 ps, the timing jitter of 340 fs, are obtained. The sidemode-suppression ratio of the output pulses is better than 23dB over a 10-nm wavelength tuning range.     

Pulse timing-jitter reduction by incoherent addition

A new technique is proposed and demonstrated for reducing the timing jitter of a mode-locked laser diode by use of fiber-optic interferometers with an optical path difference much longer than the laser's coherence length. At the output of the interferometer the intensities of the two pulse trains are incoherently added, giving rise to the cancellation of timing noise at specific Fourier frequencies determined by the path difference. The timing jitter of pulse trains emitted by a 19.444-GHz mode-locked laser is reduced to 0.991 and 0.874 ps for 100-kHz-18-MHz bandwidth after the pulse trains pass through a cascaded Mach-Zehnder and a ring interferometer, respectively.     

Experimental verification of laser photocathode RF gun as aninjector for a laser plasma accelerator

The feasibility of the laser photocathode RF gun, BNL/GUN-IV, as an injector for a laser plasma accelerator was investigated at the subpicosecond S-band twin linac system of the Nuclear Engineering Research Laboratory, University of Tokyo. Electron beam energy of 16 MeV, emittance of 6π mm mrad, bunch length of 240 fs (FWHM), and charge per bunch of 350 pC were confirmed at 10 Hz. As for diagnosis of the femtosecond electron bunch, the quantitative comparison of performance of the femtosecond streak camera, the coherent transition radiation (CTR) Michelson interferometer, and the far-infrared polychromator was carried out. We concluded that the streak camera is the most reliable up to 200 fs and that the polychromator is the best for the shorter electron bunch. The 3.5-ps (rms) resolved synchronization between the YLF laser driver for the gun and the electron bunch was achieved. Based on the above experiences, we have designed and installed a much better laser-electron synchronization system using the Kerr-lens mode-locked Ti:Sapphire laser with the min harmonics synchrolocker and the stable 15-MW klystron. The timing jitter is expected to be suppressed down to 320 fs (rms)     

High Quality Factor Q and Low Timing Jitter from MLLD Using Optical Injection

采用１０ＧＨｚ基准时钟光和１０Ｇｂｉｔ／ｓ的数据脉冲信号光注入到锁模激光二极管，降低了周期抖动，当注入功率为－５ｄＢｍ，在基准时钟光波长等于锁模激光二极管的光波长时，获得的最小抖动为０．２５ｐｓ，采用混合锁模激光二极管，在注入功率为＋２７ｄＢｍ时，其Ｑ值达３０００．     

强场X射线激光物理

相干X光,特别是X射线自由电子激光技术的发展提供了一种新的产生超强光场的途径.由于其较高的光子能量、高峰值功率密度与超短的脉冲长度,有望将强场激光物理从可见光波段推进到X光波段.目前,基于X射线的非线性原子分子物理已取得了初步进展,随着X射线光强的提升,相互作用将进入相对论物理、强场量子电动力学(quantum electrodynamics,QED)物理等领域,为激光驱动加速与辐射、QED真空、暗物质的产生与探测等带来新的科学发现机会.本文对强场X射线激光在固体中的尾场加速、真空极化、轴子的产生与探测等方面进行介绍,旨在阐明X射线波段强场物理在若干基础前沿与关键应用方面的独特优势,并对未来的发展方向进行展望.