Synchronised pulse-train generation from passively mode-locked semiconductor lasers by a phase-locked loop using optical modulation sidebands

The authors present a novel phase-locked loop for synchronising ultra-fast, passively mode-locked semiconductor lasers to an electrical signal. The loop uses beat signals between locked modes and their optical modulation sidebands. A 36.6GHz rate pulse train is synchronised and measured with a synchro-scan streak camera for the first time.