Characterization of a SESAM Mode-locked Erbium Fiber Laser Frequency Comb with an Integrated Electro-optic Modulator

In this paper the characteristics of a SESAM mode-locked frequency comb with an intra-cavity electro-optic modulator are examined. To our knowledge this is the first time an intra-cavity EOM is used within a SESAM mode-locked erbium fiber frequency comb. Hereby the sensitivity of the combs offset and repetition frequency is determined as a function of pump power setpoints and EOM voltages considering the cavity's temperatures. In addition the impact of the pump laser's relative intensity noise on the offset frequency's linewidth is analyzed, where a standard FBG pump diode and a hybrid external cavity laser are used for comparison. To prove the comb's function as a stable and accurate interface between optical and HF standards, e.g. for atomic clocks, three different locking schemes for the comb's repetition rate are presented and analyzed using phase noise measurements as reference.