Analysis of a mode-locked ring laser: chirped solitary pulse solutions

Journal Article · Mon Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · J. Opt. Soc. Am. B: Opt. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1364/JOSAB.2.000680· OSTI ID:5563864

Diels, J; Dietel, W; Fontaine, J J; Rudolph, W; Wilhelmi, B

We present measurements on mode-locked ring dye lasers that demonstrate the role of self-phase modulation in the saturable absorber dye. The resulting bandwidth increase plays an essential role in ultrashort pulse generation, because it leads to intracavity pulse compression in the presence of normally dispersive components. The role of various intracavity components (glass, coatings) in intracavity compression is analyzed. As opposed to extracavity compression, measurements of pulse amplitude and phase show that the nonlinear phase modulation can be completely compensated. The interaction of the light pulse with the absorber is analyzed using Maxwell-Bloch equations. Next, we find the steady-state solution for the problem of pulse propagation through an infinite periodic medium containing all the essential intracavity elements (bandwidth-limiting filter, amplifier, absorber, dispersive component). The condition that the solitary pulses be unchirped enables us to determine the optimum intracavity dispersion, which, in agreement with the experimental data, leads to the shortest pulses.

• Research Organization: Center for Applied Quantum Electronics, Department of Physics, North Texas State University, Denton, Texas 76203
• OSTI ID: 5563864
• Journal Information: J. Opt. Soc. Am. B: Opt. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Opt. Soc. Am. B: Opt. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 2:4; ISSN JOBPD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
420300* -- Engineering-- Lasers-- (-1989)
AMPLITUDES
BLOCH EQUATIONS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
DYE LASERS
EQUATIONS
LASERS
LIQUID LASERS
MAXWELL EQUATIONS
MODE LOCKING
MODULATION
NONLINEAR OPTICS
OPTICAL DISPERSION
OPTICS
OPTIMIZATION
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
PULSES
QUASI PARTICLES
RING LASERS
SOLITONS
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS
TIMING PROPERTIES