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Relative timing jitter measurements with an indirect phase comparison method

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Abstract

We propose and demonstrate experimentally a method for the sensitive measurement of the relative timing jitter of two mode-locked lasers, which can be either free-running or timing-synchronized to a common reference oscillator. The method is based on the indirect comparison of the phases of two photodetector outputs, using a microwave oscillator, the noise of which does not affect the results, electronic mixers, and a sampling oscilloscope. We carefully analyze and experimentally demonstrate the potential of this method. Compared to phase detector methods, it has a broader scope of applications and a lower sensitivity to intensity noise. We also obtained data on the coupling of intensity to timing noise in photodetectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Quantum Electronics, Physics Department, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH), ETH Zürich Hönggerberg, Wolfgang-Pauli-Str. 16, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland

    R. Paschotta, B. Rudin, A. Schlatter, G.J. Spühler, L. Krainer, S.C. Zeller & U. Keller

  2. RP Photonics Consulting GmbH, Kurfirstenstr. 63, 8002, Zürich, Switzerland

    R. Paschotta

  3. Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, Bundesallee 100, 38116, Braunschweig, Germany

    N. Haverkamp & H.R. Telle

Authors
  1. R. Paschotta
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  2. B. Rudin
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  3. A. Schlatter
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  4. G.J. Spühler
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  5. L. Krainer
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  6. S.C. Zeller
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  7. N. Haverkamp
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  8. H.R. Telle
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  9. U. Keller
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Paschotta.

Additional information

PACS

42.50.Lc; 42.60.Fc

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Paschotta, R., Rudin, B., Schlatter, A. et al. Relative timing jitter measurements with an indirect phase comparison method. Appl. Phys. B 80, 185–192 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-004-1704-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-004-1704-2

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