Query: Measuring timing jitter with optical cross correlations

Candidate papers:

abstract: The use of optical cross correlations for characterizing timing jitter is investigated. Applications, limitations, and correspondence to radio frequency measurements are presented and clarified. The probability density function of the timing jitter of semiconductor mode locked lasers is deconvolved from the cross correlation measurements with the aid of pulse characterization techniques.
author_names: Leaf Alden Jiang

S T Wong

Matthew Edward Grein

Erich P Ippen

Hermann A Haus
title: Measuring timing jitter with optical cross correlations
year: 2002

abstract: A method for measuring the timing jitter in a 1550 nm mode locked fiber laser, with the help of an autocorrelator, has been developed and the error in measuring the value of the jitter has been evaluated. The preliminary results have shown that the fluctuations of the jitter are higher than the medium value of the jitter itself, so we decided to use some amplifiers in the circuit in order to eliminate this problem. The setup was changed by adding a laser diode, with the wavelength of 980 nm, and an erbium fiber. The medium value of the jitter we obtained (from eight measurements) for our setup was 78.8 fs. In order to still improve the measurements, we changed the time constant of the autocorrelator from 1.1 ps to 10 fs. The new medium value we obtained for the timing jitter was 78.33 fs. Finally, we calculated the error in measuring the timing jitter in our setup. We can say that the optical cross correlations present a powerful tool for characterizing the timing jitter in mode locked fiber lasers.
author_names: Andrei Dragulinescu

Robert Herda

Mircea D Guina
title: Jitter measurements in a 1550 nm mode locked laser
venue: Advanced Topics in Optoelectronics, Microelectronics, and Nanotechnologies
year: 2009

abstract: The measurement, design, and theory of ultralow noise actively modelocked lasers are presented. We demonstrate quantum limited noise performance of a hybridly modelocked semiconductor laser with an rms timing jitter of only 47 fs (10 Hz to 10 MHz) and 86 fs (10 Hz to 4.5 GHz) The daunting task of measuring ultralow noise levels is solved by a combined use of microwave and optical measurement techniques that yield complete characterization of the laser noise from DC to half the laser repetition rate. Optical cross correlation techniques are shown to be a useful tool for quantifying fast noise processes, isolating the timing jitter noise component, measuring timing jitter asymmetries, and measuring correlations of pulses in harmonically modelocked lasers. A noise model for harmonically modelocked lasers is presented that illustrates how to correctly interpret the amplitude noise and timing jitter from microwave measurements. Using information about the supermodes, the amplitude and timing noise can be quantified independently, thereby making it possible to measure the noise of harmonically modelocked lasers with multi gigahertz repetition rates. Methods to further reduce the noise of a modelocked laser are explored. We demonstrate that photon seeding is effective at reducing the noise of a modelocked semiconductor laser without increasing the pulse width. Experimental demonstrations of a timing jitter eater, consisting of a phase modulator and dispersive fiber, show that the noise power spectral density can be reduced by more than 12 dB. Finally, we demonstrate how to reduce the timing jitter with electronic feedback to the saturable absorber and gain terminals. An analytical theory for semiconductor lasers that includes carrier dynamics is presented. Ultralow noise performance is achieved by reducing the dispersion of the cavity, reducing the linear losses in the cavity, by operating at high optical powers, and with a tight optical filter. The gain dynamics of the semiconductor laser do not severely degrade the noise performance. Thesis Supervisor: Erich P. Ippen Title: Elihu Thomson Professor of Electrical Engineering
author_names: Leaf Alden Jiang
title: Ultralow noise modelocked lasers
year: 2002

abstract: The pulse width and pulse to pulse jitter of a mode locked Imra Femtolite 780 nm wavelength fiber laser was obtained using an optical autocorrelator and cross correlator. The autocorrelation and cross correlation were accomplished via second harmonic generation using a beta barium borate (BBO) crystal in a noncollinear phase matching condition. Results for type I and type II phase matching are presented. Type II results showed slight broadening effects on the correlation signal which is attributed to the birefringent properties of the crystal. The results demonstrate capabilities to perform modest optical autocorrelation and cross correlation measurements to evaluate ultrafast laser timing jitter characteristics without having to purchase expensive optical autocorrelators.
author_names: Ivan Cedrick Verona

Alexander De Los Reyes

Lorenzo P Lopez

Hannah R Bardolaza

Maria Angela B Faustino

Armando Somintac

Arnel A Salvador

Elmer Estacio
title: Determination of pulse width and estimation of pulse to pulse jitter of femtosecond fiber laser pulses using optical autocorrelation and cross correlation techniques
year: 2019

abstract: A combination of cross spectral analysis and balanced optical cross correlation techniques is proposed to access the absolute timing jitter of one laser mode locked solid state laser. This method gives a record jitter detection floor.
author_names: Alexis Casanova

Benoit Tropheme

Antoine Courjaud

Giorgio Santarelli
title: Cross spectrum approach for absolute timing jitter measurement of mode locked lasers
venue: 2018 Conference on Lasers and Electro Optics (CLEO)
year: 2018

abstract: We reported the timing jitter reduction of an 882 MHz mode locked NPE Yb:fiber lasers through active relative intensity noise suppression. The timing jitter spectra measurements based on balanced optical cross correlation (BOC) technique show a reduction of ~10 dB in the Fourier frequency range from ~3 kHz to ~30 kHz with a unity gain crossing point of 80 kHz. The results verify the theoretical prediction that the relative intensity noise (RIN) induced timing jitter by self steepening effect dominates the jitter performance below ~100 kHz. Further comparison with the analytic model shows that the effect of RIN decays below ~3 kHz. Thus, the timing jitter reduction is not obvious at low frequency. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first experimental report on the timing jitter reduction through active RIN suppression in high repetition rate mode locked fiber lasers.
author_names: Yan Wang

Haochen Tian

Dong Hou

Fei Meng

Yuxuan Ma

Hao Xu

Franz X Kartner

Youjian Song

Zhigang Zhang
title: Timing jitter reduction through relative intensity noise suppression in high repetition rate mode locked fiber lasers.
venue: Optics express
year: 2019

abstract: Optical frequency combs have become revolutionary tools in high precision applications. Timing jitter of optical pulse trains is an important property for optical frequency comb applications, including time/frequency metrology, low phase noise microwave generation, photonic analog to digital converters, photonics based radars, dual comb ranging, and timing synchronization and distribution, to name a few. For high resolution timing jitter characterization of mode locked lasers, optical cross correlation method [1] using nonlinear optic processes has been used in the last decade. However, the complexity of the method and the requirement of reference lasers (with matched repetition rate and lower timing jitter) have limited the applicability of this method.
author_names: Dohyeon Kwon

Jungwon Kim
title: Simple and high resolution timing jitter measurement method of optical frequency combs
venue: 2017 Conference on Lasers and Electro Optics Europe European Quantum Electronics Conference (CLEO/Europe EQEC)
year: 2017

abstract: We characterized the timing jitter of two 880 MHz Yb doped mode locked fiber lasers using the optical cross correlation technique. The lowest residual timing jitter is 3.5 fs rms (integrated from 5MHz to 100 kHz)
author_names: Haochen Tian

Yuxuan Ma

Youjian Song

Zhigang Zhang
title: Timing Jitter of High Repetition Rate Mode locked Fiber Lasers
venue: CLEO 2018
year: 2018

abstract: We design and realize an arrival time diagnostic for ultrashort X ray pulses achieving unprecedented high sensitivity in the soft X ray regime via cross correlation with a 1550 nm optical laser. An interferometric detection scheme is combined with a multi layer sample design to greatly improve the sensitivity of the measurement. We achieve up to 275% of relative signal change when exposed to 1.6 mJ/cm2 of soft X rays at 530 eV, more than a hundred fold improvement in sensitivity as compared to previously reported techniques. The resolution of the arrival time measurement is estimated to around 2.8 fs (rms) The demonstrated X ray arrival time monitor paves the way for sub 10 fs level timing jitter at high repetition rate X ray facilities.
author_names: Stefan Droste

Sioan Zohar

Lingjia Shen

Vaughn E White

Elizabeth Diaz-Jacobo

Ryan N Coffee

Alexander H Reid

Franz Tavella

Michael P Minitti

Joshua J Turner

Joseph S Robinson

Alan Fry

Giacomo Coslovich
title: High sensitivity x ray/optical cross correlator for next generation free electron lasers.
venue: Optics express
year: 2020

author_names: Ma Xue Lian Ma Xuelian

Liu Lu Liu Lu

Zhang Zhi Gang Zhang Zhigang

Tang Jun Xiong Tang Junxiong
title: Theoretical and Experimental Study on Timing Jitter Measurement for Transmitted Pulse Using Balanced Optical Cross Correlation Scheme
year: 2010