Title :
Detection of free-running electric signals up to 75 GHz using a femtosecond-pulse laser
Author :
Loffler, T. ; Pfeifer, T. ; Roskos, H.G. ; Kurz, H.
Author_Institution :
Inst. fur Halbleitertech., Rheinisch-Westfalische Technische Hochschule Aachen, Aachen, Germany
Abstract :
A passively mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser is utilized to sample free-running microwave signals in time domain by photoconductive detection with a high sensitivity. The repetition frequency of the pulsed laser is locked to the free-running microwave signal by electronically controlled adjustment of the laser cavity length. A pump probe detection scheme allows absolute time scaling. The system´s main application is the probing of electrical field distributions on free-running microwave circuits in the near and the far field.<>
Keywords :
high-speed optical techniques; laser cavity resonators; laser mode locking; measurement by laser beam; microwave circuits; microwave measurement; optical pumping; optical time-domain reflectometry; photoconductivity; sensitivity; solid lasers; 75 GHz; absolute time scaling; electrical field distribution; electronically controlled adjustment; far field; femtosecond-pulse laser; free-running electric signal detection; free-running microwave circuits; free-running microwave signal; free-running microwave signals; high sensitivity; laser cavity length; near field; optical time domain measurement; passively mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser; photoconductive detection; pulsed laser; pump probe detection scheme; repetition frequency; time domain; Circuit testing; Clocks; Frequency; Laser mode locking; Masers; Optical control; Optical pumping; Pump lasers; Signal resolution; Ultrafast optics;
Journal_Title :
Photonics Technology Letters, IEEE
