Apparatus and method for improved time synchronization of pulsed laser systems
US5367529A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 15, 1993 |
| Grant date | Nov 22, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 15, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S2301/08
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Phase-locking means are provided for synchronizing the pulse timing of two (or more) passively mode-locked pulsed lasers. The phase-locking is carried out at a frequency much higher than that of the fundamental repetition rate of the lasers because it results in much higher sensitivity. The signal from the two bandpass filters is applied to a phase detector. A phase-locked loop circuit ("PLL") is employed to generate an error signal which is applied to a piezoelectric transducer ("PZT") attached to a mirror in one of the laser cavities. Corrections in the position of the mirror driven by the error signal help reduce the effects of phase noise in the relative fundamental repetition frequencies of the two lasers so that they are effectively synchronized with one another with a "jitter" of less than 1 ps.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.