Abstract
The use of an optical frequency comb generated by an ultrafast mode-locked laser has been realized as a promising method of the direct comparison between microwave and optical frequencies. We are currently investigating frequency control of a chirped-mirror-dispersion-controlled mode-locked Ti:Al2O3 laser. We stabilized the pulse repetition rate frep to a rf synthesizer locked to a cesium (Cs) clock to the Allan deviation of 4 × 10-12 in 1 s. We found that the position of the crystal, rotation of the chirped mirrors, and change of the pump-laser power can be used in controlling the carrier-envelope offset frequency fCEO. We extended the span of the comb to over one octave, i.e., from 530 nm to 1190 nm, at-20 dB using a photonic-crystal fiber made at the University of Bath. We are currently trying to measure the frequency of an iodine-stabilized Nd:YAG laser using a floating ruler of a f:2f frequency interval chain. We detected the self-referencing beat between the fundamental and second-harmonic frequencies of the comb, which will enable further precise comparison between microwave and optical frequencies through the control of the fCEO.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 95-104 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Proceedings of SPIE-The International Society for Optical Engineering |
Volume | 4269 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Jan 2001 |
Keywords
- Carrier-envelope offset
- Chirped-mirror dispersion control
- F:2f frequency interval chain
- Femtosecond laser
- Optical frequency measurement
- Photonic crystal fiber
- Ultrafast mode-locked laser
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Computer Science Applications
- Applied Mathematics
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering