Frequency stability of a femtosecond optical parametric oscillator frequency comb

Carrier-envelope-offset (CEO) and pulse-repetition frequencies of a Ti:sapphire-pumped femtosecond optical parametric oscillator were locked to uncertainties of 0.09 Hz and 0.16 mHz respectively, with the CEO beat signal linewidth being stabilized to 15 Hz (instrument limited). In-loop phase-noise power spectral density measurements showed a contribution of our servo electronics to the comb-line frequency uncertainty of up to 110 Hz. Complementary time-series data implied an in-loop comb instability of 2 x 10(-11) (1-s gate time), matching the Rb-stabilized reference used and verifying that dual servo-control of the CEO and repetition frequencies was effective in stabilizing the comb to at least this precision. (C) 2011 Optical Society of America