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

Abstract

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.