Attosecond active synchronization of passively mode-locked lasers by balanced cross correlation.
A balanced cross correlator, the optical equivalent of a balanced microwave phase detector, is demonstrated. Its use in synchronizing an octave-spanning Ti:sapphire laser and a 30-fs Cr:forsterite laser yields 300-attosecond timing jitter measured from 10 mHz to 2.3 MHz. The spectral overlap between the two lasers is strong enough to permit direct detection of the difference in carrier-envelope offset frequency between the two lasers.
Schibli
T R
TR
Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA. schibli@mit.edu
Kim
J
J
Kuzucu
O
O
Gopinath
J T
JT
Tandon
S N
SN
Petrich
G S
GS
Kolodziejski
L A
LA
Fujimoto
J G
JG
Ippen
E P
EP
Kaertner
F X
FX