Dual-comb modelocked lasers: semiconductor saturable absorber mirror decouples noise stabilization

Optics Express
Sandro M LinkUrsula Keller

Abstract

In this paper we present the stabilization of the pulse repetition rate of dual-comb lasers using an intracavity semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM) for passive modelocking and an intracavity birefringent crystal for polarization-duplexing to obtain simultaneous emission of two modelocked beams from the same linear cavity sharing all components. Initially surprising was the observation that the cavity length adjustments to stabilize one polarization did not significantly affect the pulse repetition rate of the other. We gained insight in the underlying physics using both a semiconductor and Nd:YAG laser gain material with the conclusion that the pulse arrival timing jitter of the two beams is decoupled by the uncorrelated time delay from the saturated SESAM and becomes locked with sufficient but not too much pulse overlap. Noise stabilization is in all cases still possible for both combs. The dual-comb modelocked laser is particularly interesting for the semiconductor laser enabling the integration of gain and absorber layers within one wafer (referred to as the modelocked integrated external-cavity surface emitting laser - MIXSEL).

References

Sep 16, 2000·Physical Review Letters·A ApolonskiF Krausz
Aug 15, 2003·Nature·Ursula Keller
Jul 21, 2004·Optics Letters·Fritz KeilmannRonald Holzwarth
Aug 4, 2005·Optics Letters·V GerginovL Hollberg
Apr 7, 2007·The Review of Scientific Instruments·A BartelsT Dekorsy
Nov 17, 2007·Optics Letters·S Schiller
Feb 1, 2008·Physical Review Letters·Ian CoddingtonNathan R Newbury
Sep 6, 2008·Science·Tilo SteinmetzThomas Udem
Oct 31, 2005·Optics Express·Albert SchliesserDaniel van der Weide
Feb 8, 2013·Optics Express·Keith G WilcoxWolfgang Stolz
Jul 1, 2014·Optics Express·Christian A ZauggUrsula Keller
Apr 4, 2015·Optics Express·Sandro M LinkUrsula Keller
Sep 15, 2015·Optics Express·Mario MangoldUrsula Keller

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