A rate-doubled 10-GHz fiducial comb generator for precision optical timing calibration
Solid-state optical fiducial timing pulse generators provide a convenient and accurate method to include timing fiducials in a streak-camera image for time-base correction. Current commercially available vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSEL’s) emitting in the visible range can be amplitude modulated up to 5 GHz. An optically passive method is utilized to interleave a time-delayed path of the 5-GHz pulsed light with itself, producing a 10-GHz pulsed fiducial, or comb. Comb pulse rates at 0.5, 1.0 and 2.5 GHz can also be selected. The instrument presented is a self-contained and portable generator with primary use for streak-camera temporal calibration. Applications can also be extended to many other optical timing needs. The VCSEL output is fiber optic coupled at a wavelength of 680 nm (visible red) with a nearly Gaussian pulse shape. The peak power of each ~50-ps FWHM comb pulse at 5-GHz operation, or picket, is approximately 5 mW. The low phase noise of the internal microwave modulation drive source provides low pulse to pulse jitter. An external reference frequency standard can be utilized to synchronize the output to external timing equipment. A selectable internal reference frequency crystal oscillator is incorporated for stand-alone operation.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States). Lab. for Laser Energetics
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
- Contributing Organization:
- Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester
- Grant/Contract Number:
- NA0003856
- OSTI ID:
- 1506066
- Report Number(s):
- 2018-300, 1487; 2018-300, 1487, 2446
- Journal Information:
- Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 90, Issue 3; ISSN 0034-6748
- Publisher:
- American Institute of Physics (AIP)Copyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Web of Science
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