Active mode locking of broad band continuous-wave lasers

The authors extend D.J. Kuizenga and A.E. Siegman's theory (1970) on active mode locking to the case of broad bandwidth continuous-wave (CW) tunable lasers; in particular, the authors analyze the effects of intracavity group-velocity dispersion and bandwidth control caused by intracavity optical elements, such as the solid-state hosts of the gain medium, modulators, and birefringent tuning filters. The theory predicts that in the presence of significant group-velocity (material) dispersion there exists an optimal value of the intracavity bandwidth at which the shortest pulsewidths can be obtained. This optimal value of the intracavity bandwidth is inversely proportional to the square root of the intracavity group-velocity dispersion. The results of this theory are compared with the authors' previous experiments on active mode locking of a CW Ti:Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ laser.<
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