Toptica Photonics Ag

Thomas A Puppe

Nico Vieweg

Armin Zach

Christian Rausch

Frank Lison

Alexander Sell

Andreas Brodschelm

Manfred Hager

Thomas Hellerer

Rafal Wilk

Ali Seer

Christoph Tresp

Martin Enderlein

Russell Keith Kliese

Matthias Hohenleutner

Max Eisele

Christoph Skrobol

The invention relates to a laser device comprising a laser source (), which is configured to emit pulsed laser radiation () with a spectrum in the form of a frequency comb having a plurality of equidistant spectral lines, an optical modulator (), which is configured to shift the frequency of the laser radiation (), and a control unit (), which is configured to control the modulator () by means of a control signal (). It is the object of the present invention to demonstrate an improved way, compared to the prior art, of generating an optical frequency comb that is stabilized in terms of the CEO frequency, in which the CE phase is also adjustable. To this end, the invention proposes that the laser radiation () emitted by the laser source () is stabilized in terms of the carrier-envelope frequency. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method of generating an optical frequency comb.

Laser device for generating an optical frequency comb

The invention relates to a device for generating temporally spaced light pulses. Said device comprises a first light source which emits a first train of light pulses, a second light source which emits a second train of light pulses, and a phase-locked loop which regulates the relative phase of the light-pulse trains towards a target value. When the two light-pulse trains each pass through an optical transmission path to an application site that is spatially remote from the light sources, fluctuating phase differences in the light-pulse trains at the application site occur due to external influences along the transmission paths. The object of the invention is to provide an improved device for generating temporally spaced light pulses. In particular, the above-mentioned fluctuating phase differences are intended to be prevented. To do this, the invention proposes a detection apparatus that interacts with the phase-locked loop and detects a phase difference in the light-pulse trains at the application site caused by propagation-time differences along the transmission paths. In particular, the phase difference in the light-pulse trains at the application site is derived from light pulses that are reflected from the application site and pass through the transmission paths in the return direction. The detected phase difference can then be compensated for by the existing regulation of the relative phase of the light-pulse trains. In addition, the invention relates to a method for generating temporally spaced light pulses.

Optical scanning

The invention relates to a method for modulating the resonant frequency of an optical resonator () in accordance with a periodic, not necessarily harmonic, modulation signal (U(t)). Fast modulation of an optical resonator is intended to be made possible in which the current resonant frequency follows the modulation signal (U(t)) as precisely as possible, and specifically at a fundamental frequency of the modulation signal in the kHz range. To do this, the invention proposes the following method steps:

Fast modulation of the resonant frequency of an optical resonator

A method for generating stabilized, pulsed laser radiation is disclosed, the method including at least the steps of generating pulsed laser radiation at a repetition frequency, wherein the spectrum of the pulsed laser radiation is a frequency comb having a number of equidistant spectral lines; deriving a first controlled variable from the pulsed laser radiation by means of phase comparison with a high-frequency reference signal; generating narrow-band continuous-wave laser radiation at a reference wavelength; setting the reference wavelength in accordance with a first manipulated variable derived from the first controlled variable; deriving a second controlled variable by means of superposition of the pulsed laser radiation and the continuous-wave laser radiation; and setting the repetition frequency in accordance with a second manipulated variable derived from the second controlled variable. A device for generating stabilized, pulsed laser radiation compatible with the method is also disclosed.

Method and device for generating pulsed laser radiation

The invention relates to a method for the synthesis of electromagnetic radiation, wherein electromagnetic radiation having a spectrum comprising two or more spectral components is generated and phase setting of the electromagnetic radiation is performed. The invention proposes that the phase setting comprises phase shifting of the spectral components of the electromagnetic radiation, wherein the relative phase relationship of the spectral components is predeterminable. In addition, the invention relates to an apparatus for the synthesis of electromagnetic radiation, said apparatus comprising a pulsed laser (), which generates a sequence of temporally equidistant light pulses, wherein the spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation of the pulsed laser () is the spectrum of an optical frequency comb, which is characterized by an offset frequency and a repetition rate. Furthermore, the apparatus has a phase setter (), which effects phase setting of the electromagnetic radiation of the pulses laser (). In accordance with the invention, the offset frequency of the spectral lines of the optical frequency comb is adjustable by time-proportional phase setting by means of the phase setter ().

Method and apparatus for the synthesis of electromagnetic radiation

The invention relates to an apparatus for generating temporally spaced apart light pulses, comprising

A device for generating temporally distant light pulses is provided, the device including at least a first light source for generating a first sequence of light pulses at a first repetition rate, and a second light source for generating a second sequence of light pulses at a second repetition rate. In some embodiments the device includes at least one actuator element which influences the first and/or the second repetition rate, and a control element which charges the actuator element with a periodical modulation signal for periodical variation of the first and/or second repetition rate. A control circuit is also provided including at least a phase detector, a corrective element, a control element, and a superposition element that forms an actuator signal from a modulation signal and an output signal of the control element, and which charges the actuator element with the actuator signal.

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Munich, Germany

Thomas A Puppe