Pulse chirping in a Nd:YAG laser

The 1.06-μm output of a loss-modulation mode-locked and frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser was examined using a microwave avalanche photodiode with a rise time of ∼40 ps, and a scanning Fabry-Perot. The pulses were found to be transform limited only in the case where the 0.53-μm output of the laser was suppressed. When conversion efficiency was restored, the spectrum exhibited narrowing, but the pulses were much wider than the transform limit, indicating the presence of chirping.