Abstract

Many nonlinear sources of tuneable radiation (optical parametric oscillators/amplifiers, frequency mixers, etc) find their application in variety of optical investigations. To pump them, passively mode-locked lasers are now commonly used. Nonlinear interactions taking place in mentioned devices enormously boost the initial nonstability of pump laser parameters: of pulse duration, energy, spectrum, beam direction and so on. Another problem with passive and passive-active mode—locking technique is that of synchronisation of optical and electrical pulses to trigger experimental apparatus. Eg, ps-resolution streak cameras require pre-trigger pulse preceding by approx. 10÷100 ns the optical signal arriving on entrance slit, and the electrical to optical signal jitter must not exceed 100 ps [1].

© 1996 IEEE