title: Wide-bandwidth analog correlator and its application to mode-locked laser measurements.
abstract: A new instrument for the analog determination of correlation functions of wide-bandwidth signals is described and characterized. The instrument is comprised of microwave electronic components; a double-balanced mixer performs the multiplication operation involved in the correlation process, whereas a constant-impedance line stretcher introduces the variable delay. Measurements indicate that the correlator has a bandwidth of approximately 3 GHz. It is shown that this inexpensive and simple device can be used as a diagnostic tool for mode-locked argon-ion lasers when used in conjunction with a fast photodiode detector.
authors.affiliation: Indiana University, Department of Chemistry, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ramsey
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Hieftje
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Haugen
mesh_terms: D001128:Argon; D001330:Electronic Data Processing; D004582:Electronics, Medical / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D007477:Ions; D007834:Lasers; D015233:Models, Statistical; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted
chemical_list: D007477:Ions; D001128:Argon