title: Carrier-envelope offset dynamics of mode-locked lasers.
abstract: We investigate coupling mechanisms between the amplitude and the carrier-envelope offset phase in mode-locked lasers. We find that nonlinear beam steering in combination with the intracavity prism compressor is the predominant mechanism that causes amplitude-to-phase conversion in our laser. A second mechanism, induced by self-steepening, is also identified. These mechanisms are important for stabilizing the carrier-envelope offset phase and also explain the extremely low pulse-to-pulse energy fluctuations observed in some lasers with carrier-envelope lock. The coupling mechanisms described have important implications for applications of few-cycle optical pulses.
authors.forename: F W
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Helbing
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Steinmeyer
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Windeler
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stenger
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Telle