Noise characterization of sub-10-fs Ti:sapphire oscillators

A complete noise characterization of sub-10-fs Ti:sapphire oscillators in terms of pulse energy fluctuations, timing jitter, and the coupling between these two noise components is presented for the first time. The noise performance of a self-mode-locked mirror-dispersion-controlled (MDC) oscillator pumped by an Ar-ion laser and, alternatively, a diode-pumped laser (Millennia, Spectra Physics Inc.) is compared. The all-solid-state sub-10-fs system exhibits an excellent noise performance far superior to its Ar-ion-pumped counterpart. The root-mean-square (rms) pulse-energy fluctuation of the all-solid-state source is as low as 0.19% over the frequency range of 0.06 Hz-1.5 MHz. A coupling between energy noise and timing jitter has been observed for what is to our knowledge the first time in a passively mode-locked femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser.