Self-referencable frequency comb from a 170-fs, 1.5-μm solid-state laser oscillator

We report measurement of the first carrier-envelope offset (CEO) frequency signal from a spectrally broadened ultrafast solid-state laser oscillator operating in the 1.5 μm spectral region. The f-to-2f CEO frequency beat signal is 49 dB above the noise floor (100-kHz resolution bandwidth) and the free-running linewidth of 3.6 kHz is significantly better than typically obtained by ultrafast fiber laser systems. We used a SESAM mode-locked Er:Yb:glass laser generating 170-fs pulses at a 75 MHz pulse repetition rate with 110-mW average power. It is pumped by one standard telecom-grade 980-nm diode consuming less than 1.5 W of electrical power. Without any further pulse compression and amplification, a coherent octave-spanning frequency comb is generated in a polarization-maintaining highly-nonlinear fiber (PM-HNLF). The fiber length was optimized to yield a strong CEO frequency beat signal between the outer Raman soliton and the spectral peak of the dispersive wave within the supercontinuum. The polarization-maintaining property of the supercontinuum fiber was crucial; comparable octave-spanning supercontinua from two non-PM fibers showed higher intensity noise and poor coherence. A stable CEO-beat was observed even with pulse durations above 200 fs. Achieving a strong CEO frequency signal from relatively long pulses with moderate power levels substantially relaxes the demands on the driving laser, which is particularly important for novel gigahertz diode-pumped solid-state and semiconductor lasers.     

Ultra-stable microwave generation with a diode-pumped solid-state laser in the 1.5-μm range

We demonstrate the first ultra-stable microwave generation based on a 1.5-μm diode-pumped solid-state laser (DPSSL) frequency comb. Our system relies on optical-to-microwave frequency division from a planar-waveguide external cavity laser referenced to an ultra-stable Fabry–Perot cavity. The evaluation of the microwave signal at ~10 GHz uses the transportable ultra-low-instability signal source ULISS^®, which employs a cryo-cooled sapphire oscillator. With the DPSSL comb, we measured ?125 dBc/Hz phase noise at 1 kHz offset frequency, likely limited by the photo-detection shot-noise or by the noise floor of the reference cryo-cooled sapphire oscillator. For comparison, we also generated low-noise microwave using a commercial Er:fiber comb stabilized in similar conditions and observed >20 dB lower phase noise in the microwave generated from the DPSSL comb. Our results confirm the high potential of the DPSSL technology for low-noise comb applications.     

Compression of picosecond optical pulses from 1.5μm gain switched In GaAsP DFB diode laser

The experimental study of compression of picosecond optical pulses from a gainswitched InGaAsP DFB laser at 1.5μm wavelength range using a Gires-Tournois interferome-ter has been reported. Ultrashort optical pulses with pulsewidths of 6.6 ps, repetition rate of2.4GHz, and peak power in excess of 200 mW are obtained. The characteristics of a Gires-Tournois interferometer as a pulse compressor are also discussed.     

Absolute frequency measurement of a water-stabilized diode laser at 1.384?��m by means of a fiber frequency comb

We report on the absolute frequency measurement of an extended-cavity diode laser stabilized against a Doppler-free vibration?Crotation transition of the H₂ ¹⁸O isotopologue near 1.384???m. Absolute determination is performed by comparing the water-stabilized laser frequency with respect to a GPS-disciplined Rb microwave standard by means of a self-referenced fiber-based optical frequency comb. The line center frequency of the 2_2,1??2_2,0 transition of the H₂ ¹⁸O ??₁+??₃ combination band is found to be 216?519?045?955(13)?kHz.     

Locking the frequency of lasers to an optical cavity at the 1.6×10−17 relative instability level

We stabilized the frequencies of two independent Nd:YAG lasers to two adjacent longitudinal modes of a high-finesse Fabry–Pérot resonator and obtained a beat frequency instability of 6.3 mHz at an integration time of 40 s. Referred to a single laser, this is 1.6×10^?17 relative to the laser frequency, and 1.3×10^?6 relative to the full width at half maximum of the cavity resonance. The amplitude spectrum of the beat signal had a FWHM of 7.8 mHz. This stable frequency locking is of importance for next-generation optical clock interrogation lasers and fundamental physics tests.     

Low noise, continuous-wave single-frequency 1.5-μm laser generated by a singly resonant optical parametric oscillator

We report a low noise continuous-wave (CW) single-frequency 1.5-μm laser source obtained by a singly resonant optical parametric oscillator (SRO) based on periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN). The SRO was pumped by a CW single-frequency Nd:YVO₄ laser at 1.06 μm. The 1.02 W of CW single-frequency signal laser at 1.5 μm was obtained at pump power of 6 W. At the output power of around 0.75 W, the power stability was better than ±1.5% and no mode-hopping was observed in 30 min and frequency stability was better than 8.5 MHz in 1 min. The signal wavelength could be tuned from 1.57 to 1.59 μm by varying the PPLN temperature. The 1.5-μm laser exhibits low noise characteristics, the intensity noise of the laser reaches the shot noise limit (SNL) at an analysis frequency of 4 MHz and the phase noise is less than 1 dB above the SNL at analysis frequencies above 10 MHz.     

Improvement of the fractional uncertainty of a neutral-atom calcium optical frequency standard to 2×10-14

We have investigated the two major effects that limit the accuracy of an optical frequency standard based on laser-cooled neutral calcium atoms, i.e. the residual Doppler shift and atomic collisions. A new correction method was applied to reduce the contribution of the residual Doppler effect to the total fractional uncertainty to 1×10^-14. Measurements of the shift of the clock transition frequency due to cold collisions allowed us to reduce their contribution to 4×10^-15. With these improvements we have reduced the total fractional frequency uncertainty of the standard by nearly an order of magnitude to 2×10^-14. Received: 9 August 2002 / Revised version: 16 November 2002 / Published online: 26 February 2003 RID="*" ID="*"Permanent address: Russian Academy of Sciences, P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute, Samara Branch, Novo-Sadovaya st. 221, Samara 443011, Russia RID="**" ID="**"Corresponding author. Fax: +49-531/592-4305, E-mail: uwe.sterr@ptb.de     

Noise conversion from pump to the passively mode-locked fiber lasers at 1.5 μm

We characterize the noise conversion from the pump relative intensity noise (RIN) to the RIN and phase noise of passively mode-locked lasers at 1.5 μm. Two mode locking mechanisms, nonlinear polarization rotation (NPR) and semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM), are compared for noise conversion for the first time. It is found that the RIN and the phase noise of both types of lasers are dominated by the noise converted from the pump RIN and thus, can be predicted with the measured pump RIN and noise conversion ratios. The SESAM laser is found to show an excess noise conversion from the laser RIN to the laser phase noise due to the slow saturable absorber effect.     

Absolute frequency measurement of the iodine-stabilized Ar<Superscript>+</Superscript> laser at 514.6 nm using a femtosecond optical frequency comb

The frequency of ¹²⁷I₂ hyperfine component a₃ of the P(13) 43-0 transition at 514.6 nm has been measured with an optical clockwork based on a femtosecond laser frequency comb generator. The measured frequency at an iodine pressure of 0.12 Pa is 67.3(0.75) kHz higher than the value of 582490603.38(15) MHz, adopted by the CIPM in 2003 [9] but is in a good agreement with the value measured by [29]. In our experiment we used H-maser reference frequency located at BNM-SYRTE Observatoire de Paris and transported to our laboratory by a 43 km optical fibre link. PACS 06.20.-f; 06.20.Fn; 06.30.Bp; 06.30.Ft     

126-W all-fiberized single-mode laser from an 11-μm small-core fiber

We demonstrate a 126-W all-fiberized single-mode laser from an 11-μm small-core fiber. The active fiber is a strictly single-mode fiber that produces pure single-mode. The optical to optical efficiency of the fiber laser is 68.2% with ASE suppressed by a factor of ∼35 dB and no power-roll. The output power is only limited by the available pump source, scaling the pump power may achieve much higher output power using the 11 μm small-core fiber.     

Two stage laser stabilization using external cavities: Application to a 10 μm CO2 laser locked to an OsO4 transition

A cw carbon dioxide laser, operating on the 10 m R(0) transition (28.832 THz), was stabilized by locking its frequency to an evacuated Fabry–Pérot cavity. The Fabry–Pérot cavity was in turn stabilized to the saturated absorption resonance of the Q(15) line of ¹⁸⁸OsO₄ , contained in a second Fabry–Pérot cavity. Cesium-clock referenced, frequency chain measurements of the resultant line frequency are presented together with detailed studies of the line shift sensitivities to various operating parameters. PACS 42.62.Eh; 42.62.F; 33.20.Ea     

Isotopic shift of the ground state of neon from the experimental results concerning the absorption of 0.63-μm laser radiation

Isotopic shifts of the 3s[3/2] ₁ ⁰ –2р ⁶(¹ S ₀) and 3s'–2р ⁶(¹ S ₀) transitions, equal, respectively, to 417 ± 20 and–98 ± 20 MHz, have been measured using the 0.63-μm radiation of a helium–neon laser and opto-magnetic resonances induced by the interference of the reactive components of fields in overlapping areas of the emissions of isotopic atoms. Combining these results with the absolute specific mass shift of the 3p[5/2]₂ level (–647 MHz), the isotopic mass shift of the ground state of neon equal to 3223 ± 30 MHz, and its specific mass shift equal to–9782 ± 30 MHz have been determined.     

Investigation of output parameters of a 4.3-μm longitudinal-discharge CO2 laser

A simple hot-cell-free 4.3-m CO₂ laser with longitudinal d.c. discharge is described and the results of its parametrization are presented. It is shown that for effective operation of the 4.3-m (10° 1-10°0 band) CO₂ laser, use of active mixtures containing 4 to 5% of carbon dioxide with 20% nitrogen is needed. The laser is mechanically Q-switched producing peak powers in excess of 60 W with a pulse duration of 300 ns FWHM. The 4.3-m laser is easily tunable and operates on the P and R branches of the 10°1-10°0 band of CO₂. The peculiarities of spectral performances are discussed.     

Temperature-dependent pressure broadened line shape measurements in the ν 1+ν 3 band of acetylene using a diode laser referenced to a frequency comb

Using an extended cavity diode laser referenced to a femtosecond frequency comb, the P(11) absorption line in the ?? ₁+?? ₃ combination band of the most abundant isotopologue of pure acetylene was studied at temperatures of 296, 240, 200, 175, 165, 160, 155, and 150?K to determine pressure-dependent line shape parameters at these temperatures. The laser emission profile, the instrumental resolution, is a Lorentz function characterized by a half width at half the maximum emission (HWHM) of 8.3×10^?6?cm^?1 (or 250?kHz) for these measurements. Six collision models were tested in fitting the experimental data: Voigt, speed-dependent Voigt, Rautian?CSobel??man, Galatry, and two Rautian?CGalatry hybrid models (with and without speed-dependence). Only the speed-dependent Voigt model was able to fit the data to the experimental noise level at all temperatures and for pressures between 3 and nearly 360?torr. The variations of the speed-dependent Voigt profile line shape parameters with temperature were also characterized, and this model accurately reproduces the observations over their entire range of temperature and pressure.     

Experimental investigation of the 2.1-μm single-mode Tm-Ho:KYF laser

We report on the development and comprehensive characterization of a room-temperature single-mode 2-m Tm-Ho:KYF laser. A maximum CW output power of 70 mW at the central wavelength of 2.078 m has been obtained. Using a 5-mm long intracavity birefringent filter the single-mode emission wavelength can be tuned over a range of 40 nm. Both frequency and relative intensity noise have been investigated showing a 1-ms emission linewidth of 600 kHz and an intensity noise spectrum that is quantum-noise limited for Fourier frequencies higher than 1 MHz. PACS 42.55Xi; 42.55Rz; 42.60Pk; 42.70Hj; 42.60Lh     

Influence of laser linewidth on external-cavity frequency doubling efficiency of a 1.56μm master oscillator fiber power amplifier

By using an external-cavity frequency-doubling master oscillator fiber power amplifier (MOPA), a 700~mW continuous-wave single-frequency laser source at 780~nm is produced. It is shown that the frequency doubling efficiency is improved when the seed diode laser is optically locked to a resonant frequency of a confocal Fabry--Perot (F-P) cavity. This phenomenon can be attributed to the narrowing of the 1.56~μ m laser linewidth and explained by our presented theoretical model. The experimental results are found to be in good agreement with the theoretical predictions.     

Influences of quantum noises on direct-modulated properties of 1.3-μm InGaAsP/InP laser diodes

Due to the zero dispersion point at 1.3μm in optical fibres, 1.3-μm InGaAsP/InP laser diodes have become main light sources in fibre communication systems recently. Influences of quantum noises on direct-modulated properties of single-mode 1.3-μm InGaAsP/InP laser diodes are investigated in this article. Considering the carrier and photon noises and the cross-correlation between the two noises, the power spectrum of the photon density and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the direct-modulated single-mode laser system are calculated using the linear approximation method. We find that the stochastic resonance (SR) always appears in the dependence of the SNR on the bias current density, and is strongly affected by the cross-correlation coefficient between the carrier and photon noises, the frequency of modulation signal, and the photon lifetime in the laser cavity. Hence, it is promising to use the SR mechanism to enhance the SNR of direct-modulated InGaAsP/InP laser diodes and improve the quality of optical fibre communication systems.     

Determination of the effective upper laser level lifetime from an end-pumped Tm,Ho:YLF laser

We report the measurement of the effective upper laser level lifetime from an end-pumped Q-switched Tm,Ho:YLF laser. When the pump power is 1.58 W, the effective upper laser level lifetime is only 2.5 ms, which is less than the fluorescence lifetime (∼16 ms) of the upper laser level. The dependences of the effective upper laser level lifetime on the pump power and the temperature of laser crystal are firstly obtained experimentally. The experimental results show that the effective upper laser level lifetime decreases with increasing the pump power and the temperature of laser crystal, respectively. Furthermore, the experimental results are compared with the theoretical results.     

Comparison of frequency stabilities of the Rb standard and of the He−Ne/CH4 laser stabilized to theE line in methane

The paper reports on the production of an optical time standard on the basis of the He?Ne laser stabilized to theE line in methane and on a comparison of its frequency stability with that of the rubidium standard. It is shown that the stability of the optical standard is better than that of the rubidium one. Frequency measurements of theE line gavev _E=88373149031.2±1.2 kHz. We have also made new measurements on the frequency of the He?Ne laser stabilized to theF ₂ ⁽²⁾ methane line: $$v_F = 88376181602.9 \pm 1.2kHz.$$