Accessible interferometric autocorrelator for noise-like pulses based on a Fabry-Perot cavity

• Published in: Optics express Vol. 31; no. 18; p. 29452
• Main Authors: Hernandez-Garcia, J. C., Lozano-Hernandez, T., Jauregui-Vazquez, D., Estudillo-Ayala, J. M., Pottiez, O., Filoteo-Razo, J. D., Sierra-Hernandez, J. M., Rojas-Laguna, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 28.08.2023
• ISSN: 1094-4087; 1094-4087
• DOI: 10.1364/OE.498298

In this work, we develop experimentally a Fabry-Perot fiber optic interferometer applied to the measurement of autocorrelation of complex dynamic pulses generated by a figure-eight fiber laser. The principle is based in the superposition of multiple pulses, which requires two partially reflecting flat surfaces in parallel, resulting in a simple and compact autocorrelator design. The autocorrelation trace obtained exhibits a typical double-scaled structure for noise-like pulses (NLPs), with an ultrashort coherence spur on the order of 100 fs riding upon a broad pedestal of 120 ps. Finally, we show experimentally that the developed Fabry-Perot device is able to measure accurately the autocorrelation of NLPs, as confirmed by comparing the measurement with that of a conventional autocorrelator scheme based on a Michelson interferometer, with the additional advantages of a more compact setup and a much easier alignment procedure compared to the latter.