We present measurements and analysis of the currently known relative frequency uncertainty of femtosecond laser frequency combs (FLFCs) based onKerr-lens mode-locked Ti:sapphire lasers. Broadband frequency combs generated directly from the laser oscillator, as well as octave-spanning combs generated with nonlinear optical fiber are compared. The relative frequency uncertainty introduced by an optically referenced FLFC is measured for both its optical and microwave outputs. We find that the relative frequency uncertainty of the optical and microwave outputs of the FLFC can be as low as 8x10-20 and 1.7x10-18, with a confidence level of 95%, respectively. Photo-detection of the optical pulse train introduces a small amount of excess noise, which degrades the stability and subsequent relative frequencyuncertainty limit of the microwave output to 2.6x10-17.
Frequency uncertainty for optically referenced femtosecond laser frequency combs / Ma, Ls; Bi, Zy; Bartels, A; Kim, K; Robertsson, L; Zucco, Massimo; Windeler, Rs; Wilpers, G; Oates, C; Hollberg, L; Diddams, Sa. - In: IEEE JOURNAL OF QUANTUM ELECTRONICS. - ISSN 0018-9197. - 43:1(2007), pp. 139-146. [10.1109/JQE.2006.886836]
Frequency uncertainty for optically referenced femtosecond laser frequency combs
ZUCCO, MASSIMO;
2007
Abstract
We present measurements and analysis of the currently known relative frequency uncertainty of femtosecond laser frequency combs (FLFCs) based onKerr-lens mode-locked Ti:sapphire lasers. Broadband frequency combs generated directly from the laser oscillator, as well as octave-spanning combs generated with nonlinear optical fiber are compared. The relative frequency uncertainty introduced by an optically referenced FLFC is measured for both its optical and microwave outputs. We find that the relative frequency uncertainty of the optical and microwave outputs of the FLFC can be as low as 8x10-20 and 1.7x10-18, with a confidence level of 95%, respectively. Photo-detection of the optical pulse train introduces a small amount of excess noise, which degrades the stability and subsequent relative frequencyuncertainty limit of the microwave output to 2.6x10-17.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
