Work

Direct electro-optic phase control for carrier-envelope offset frequency stabilization in solid-state lasers

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Carrier-envelope offset frequency ( f ceo ) stabilization in mode-locked lasers is typically implemented by active pump power control. Yet, the bandwidth of this technique is intrinsically limited by the finite response time of the gain medium to pump power changes. In this paper, we present a novel approach for f ceo stabilization in solid-state laser oscillators, which leverages the linear electro-optic effect to directly control the evolution of the carrier-envelope phase. We validate this concept by implementing a lithium niobate electro-optic modulator (EOM) in a Kerr-lens mode-locked Cr:ZnS laser. Our experiments prove that without the gain-medium-related limitation EOM-based f ceo stabilization provides superior performance (6.6 mrad phase noise integrated in the frequency range of 10 Hz – 12.5 MHz) over the standard pump-modulation method (7.6 mrad). Nevertheless, we identify another bandwidth constraint arising from the piezoelectric effect in lithium niobate crystal, which causes an acoustic resonance at a frequency dependent on the EOM size. We study the response of the EOM f ceo actuators depending on their dimensions and provide guidelines for further improvement of f ceo stability in solid-state lasers.

Source: Optics Express

DOI: 10.1364/oe.559629

Authors: Karolina Suliga, Jarosław Sotor, Maciej Kowalczyk

Institution: Wrocław University of Science and Technology

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Fiber Laser Technologies

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,270

Funders: Fundacja na rzecz Nauki Polskiej, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Narodowe Centrum Nauki, Narodowa Agencja Wymiany Akademickiej