Efficient timing jitter simulation for passively mode-locked semiconductor lasers

Efficient simulation of the timing jitter in passively mode-locking lasers is key to their numerical investigation and optimization. We introduce a method based on the pulse-period fluctuation auto-correlation function and compare it against established methods with respect to their estimate error. Potential improvements of the computational cost by about two orders of magnitude are reported. This advantage may facilitate larger parameter studies of passively mode-locked lasers on small-scale clusters or even desktop computers and, thereby, guide the target-oriented design of future lasers with ultra-low timing jitter.