ABSTRACT
A new nonlinear intracavity device called a microdot mirror mode locker is demonstrated for ultrashort-pulse generation in solid-state lasers. The microdot mirror produces fast saturable absorber action by using self-focusing. Pulse durations of 190 fs are achieved in a Ti:A1(2)O(3) laser. The microdot mirror mode locker is modular, preserves wavelength tunability, and can be extended to a wide range of solid-state lasers.
ABSTRACT
Stationary ultrashort light pulses of 10-psec duration and with an energy of 10 microJ per pulse were obtained from an active-passive mode-locked Nd:YAG laser by using a two-photon absorption limiter (GaAs) inserted into the resonator. The stability of energy in the steady-state part of the pulse train, containing approximately 90 pulses, is better than +/-1.5%. The dynamics of the pulse-shortening mechanism are described, and it is shown that maximum pulse compression is reached after only approximately 10 round trips.
