Mode-locked laser using non-linear self-focusing element

Details Mode-locked laser using non-linear self-focusing element Mode-locked laser using non-linear self-focusing element

1991-08-06

1992-03-17

Scott, Jr., Leon

Coherent light generators

Particular beam control device

Mode locking

H01S 3098

Patent

active

050974718

ABSTRACT:
A passively mode-locked laser (110) is disclosed that includes a resonant cavity (112, 114) having a gain medium (116) therein. A transmissive element (116), which may be the gain medium, is also located in the cavity and is formed from a material which varies the two-dimensional, lateral spatial profile of the beam with respect to intensity due to the Kerr effect. The resonator is arranged such that the round trip gain of the system increases with respect to the intensity of the beam so that mode-locking operation can be achieved. In one approach, the variation in the spatial profile is used to increase the extraction of energy from the gain medium. In another approach, the variation in spatial profile which occurs with an increase in intensity is used to decrease the loss in the system so that pulse operation is favored. In an illustrated embodiment, wherein the gain medium (116) is formed from titanium-sapphire, the self-phase modulation of the crystal is also used to compress the pulses into the femtosecond range. In addition, a prism set (136, 138) can be used to balance the group velocity dispersion and self-phase modulation of the gain crystal to achieve stable, solution-like operation.

REFERENCES:
Spence et al; "Sub-100fs Pulse Generation from Self-Modelocked Titanium-Sapphire Laser"; IEEE/Lasers & Electro-Optics Conference May 21-25, 1990, pp. 619-620.
M. C. Marconi, O. E. Martinez & F. P. Diodati, "Short Pulse Generation in Solid State Lasers by a Novel Passive Technique", Optics Communications, vol. 63, No. 3, Aug. 1, 1987, pp. 211-217.

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