Pulse timing stabilization of a mode-locked Cr:LiSAF laser

The pulse repetition frequency of a mode-locked Cr:LiSAF laser has been stabilized to an electrical reference oscillator by use of an electrical feedback technique. The phase and frequency differences between the laser and the reference are detected by use of a digital phase detector, which overcomes the difficulties of a conventional double-balanced mixer. We obtained rms timing jitters of 20 fs (25 mHz-10 kHz) and 7 fs (25 mHz-1 kHz) relative to the reference, (C) 1999 Optical Society of America.