PERIODIC PULSE EVOLUTION IN SOLITARY LASERS

The periodic variation of femtosecond pulse characteristics within a m ode-locked Ti:sapphire laser is investigated. By measurement of the ou tput pulse characteristics at the dispersive and the nondispersive end s of a femtosecond Kerr-lens mode-locked laser cavity, it has been dem onstrated that both the laser bandwidth and the pulse duration are fun ctions of position within the laser cavity. A qualitative argument is also presented that predicts near-bandwidth-limited pulses at the cavi ty extremes, and this prediction is confirmed by experiment.