Model for the temporal-stability analysis of synchroscan streak camera measurements

In synchroscan streak camera measurements with actively mode-locked lasers, the temporal resolution is considerably better when the synchronization is generated by the laser itself (active configuration) than in the case in which the deflection is obtained from the mode-locker oscillator (passive configuration). These well-known experimental results are interpreted by means of a simple model that includes random fluctuations of the laser and electronic-oscillator periods. Comparison with experimental results clearly indicates that in the active device the timing properties of the camera are limited by the interpulse jitter. Conversely, this suggests that one may take advantage of implementing the passive configuration in order to measure the instantaneous time-phase fluctuations of the mode-locker oscillator directly.