Carrier-envelope phase control of synthesized waveforms with two acousto-optic programmable dispersive filters

Area of Science:

• * Ultrafast optics and laser science.
• * Nonlinear optics and pulse shaping.

Background:

• * Precise control of carrier-envelope phase (CEP) is crucial for generating few-cycle and sub-cycle pulses.
• * Existing methods for CEP control can be complex and limited in bandwidth.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To demonstrate scanning and control of CEPs for two adjacent spectral components spanning over an octave in the SWIR region.
• * To develop a method for stabilizing CEP fluctuations in synthesized pulses.

Main Methods:

• * Employed two individual acousto-optic programmable dispersive filters (AOPDFs) for two spectral components.
• * Applied simultaneous scans of the two CEPs to control the total CEP shift.
• * Implemented a closed feedback loop using the two AOPDFs to compensate for CEP fluctuations.

Main Results:

• * Achieved controlled CEP with a resultant error of 642 mrad.
• * Demonstrated the utility of the technique for finding the zero CEP condition.
• * Reduced the root-mean-square (rms) error of CEP from 399 mrad to 237 mrad via feedback control.

Conclusions:

• * The presented dual-AOPDF approach enables precise CEP control and stabilization for broadband pulses.
• * This method facilitates the generation of stable sub-cycle pulses with controlled phase properties.
• * The technique is valuable for applications requiring precise control over the electric field of light.