Amplitude noise suppression in high-repetition-rate pulse train generationfrom a frequency-modulated Er-Yb laser

A detailed experimental analysis of the amplitude noise in high-repetition- rate picosecond pulse trains generated by spectral filtering of a frequency -modulated Er-Yb:glass laser is reported. Two distinct sources of noise are identified, and stabilization techniques for noise suppression are propose d and experimentally demonstrated. Intensity noise suppression of similar t o 20 dB, corresponding to less than 2% residual amplitude fluctuations of t he pulse train, has been achieved at repetition rates of 2.5 GHz and 5 GHz with pulse durations of similar to 50 ps.