Low-noise carrier-envelope-offset-stabilized Yb:CaF2 oscillator

We demonstrate a carrier-envelope-offset-stabilized, self-referenceable Yb:CaF2 oscillator pumped by a single-mode laser diode. By exploiting mode-locking regime based on simultaneous action of the SESAM and the Kerr lens effect we achieved self-starting generation of 85 fs pulses with a peak power approaching 47 kW. The carrier-envelope offset detection scheme was based on a standard $f$ -to- $2f$ interferometer with a spectral broadening in a highly nonlinear photonic crystal fiber. By employing a pump current feedback locking technique we achieved an in-loop integrated phase noise reaching 67 mrad in the 1 Hz – 1 MHz range. This exceptionally stable operation was enabled by a single-mode pump diode exhibiting intrinsically low-noise characteristics.