Abstract

The origin of a $1/f$ noise contribution in the long-term carrier-envelope phase (CEP) measurements of mode-locked lasers is discussed. Using two different collinear interferometers for the out-of-loop characterization of feed-forward stabilized Ti:sapphire oscillators, we suppress a possible technical origin of $1/f$ noise to the extent possible. Both measurements indicate a lower limit of CEP frequency noise of $1\mathrm{mH}\mathrm{z}/\sqrt{\mathrm{Hz}}$. Investigating several possible origins of this noise floor, we find a good agreement with a quantum noise mechanism that is directly induced by intracavity-amplified spontaneous emission (ASE). These findings enable direct access to ASE noise in short-pulse oscillators, which is very hard to characterize via repetition rate fluctuations. Finally, we discuss the possible consequences for frequency-comb-based timekeeping and frequency metrology, as well as for attosecond science.

© 2014 Optical Society of America

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