title: Acousto-optic pulse picking scheme with carrier-frequency-to-pulse-repetition-rate synchronization.
abstract: We introduce and experimentally validate a pulse picking technique based on a travelling-wave-type acousto-optic modulator (AOM) having the AOM carrier frequency synchronized to the repetition rate of the original pulse train. As a consequence, the phase noise characteristic of the original pulse train is largely preserved, rendering this technique suitable for applications requiring carrier-envelope phase stabilization. In a proof-of-principle experiment, the 1030-nm spectral part of an 74-MHz, carrier-envelope phase stable Ti:sapphire oscillator is amplified and reduced in pulse repetition frequency by a factor of two, maintaining an unprecedentedly low carrier-envelope phase noise spectral density of below 68 mrad. Furthermore, a comparative analysis reveals that the pulse-picking-induced additional amplitude noise is minimized, when the AOM is operated under synchronicity. The proposed scheme is particularly suitable when the down-picked repetition rate is still in the multi-MHz-range, where Pockels cells cannot be applied due to piezoelectric ringing.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: de Vries
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saule
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plötner
authors.forename: Fabian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lücking
authors.forename: Tino
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Eidam
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klenke
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hädrich
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Limpert
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Holzberger
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schreiber
authors.forename: Ramona
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Eberhardt
authors.forename: Ioachim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pupeza
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tünnermann