Direct ultrashort pulse generation by intracavity nonlinear compression

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a new method for directly generating ultrashort, transform-limited pulses within a laser cavity through intracavity nonlinear compression, supported by theoretical and experimental evidence.

Contribution

It introduces a novel ultrashort pulse generation technique in mode-locked lasers based on intracavity nonlinear compression, differing from traditional soliton and external compression methods.

Findings

Stable ultrashort, transform-limited pulses achieved

Pulses have broader spectra than the gain bandwidth

Method applicable to various laser systems

Abstract

Direct generation of ultrashort, transform-limited pulses in a laser resonator is observed theoretically and experimentally. This constitutes a new type of ultrashort pulse generation in mode-locked lasers: in contrast to the well-known solitons (hyperbolic secant like), dispersion-managed solitons (Gaussian-like), and parabolic pulses plus external compression, ultrashort pulse solutions to the nonlinear wave equations that describe pulse evolution in the laser cavity are observed. Stable ultrashort, transform-limited pulses exist with optical spectrum broader than the gain bandwidth of the amplifier, and this has practical application for other lasers.