Abstract
A single-shot and synchronously-scanned streak camera, autocorrelation and noise spectrum analysing techniques are utilized to study the output characteristics of synchronously mode-locked cw lasers. Four main conclusions are drawn: (i) the pulse train from a synchronously-pumped dye laser reveals, besides phase jitter, considerable pulse shape fluctuations; (ii) autocorrelation measurements may be highly misleading when actual pulse shapes are considered; (iii) both the phase jitter and pulse shape fluctuations of the dye laser output are caused by the phase fluctuations of the pumping ion laser pulse train; (iv) the phase jitter of the ion laser proceeds from the fluctuations in the cavity roundtrip time with a characteristic time of about 5 μs. Under optimum conditions the rms noise of the dye laser output was 2% and the phase jitter with respect to the rf sine drive of the acousto-optical mode-locker, ∼30 ps. A qualitative explanation fo the noise properties is given.
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