title: Coherence and shot-to-shot spectral fluctuations in noise-like ultrafast fiber lasers.
abstract: We report on experimental studies of coherence and fluctuations in noise-like pulse trains generated by ultrafast fiber oscillators. By measuring the degree of first-order coherence using a Young's-type interference experiment, we prove the lack of phase coherence across the seemingly regular array of pulses. We further quantify the pulse-to-pulse fluctuations by recording the single-shot spectra of the megahertz pulse train, and experimentally demonstrate the existence of spectral fluctuations that remain unresolved in conventional time-averaged ensemble measurements. Phase incoherence and spectral fluctuations are contrasted with quantified coherence and spectral stability when the laser is soliton mode-locked.
authors.forename: Antoine F J
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Runge
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aguergaray
authors.forename: Neil G R
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Broderick
authors.forename: Miro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erkintalo