FREQUENCY-SHIFT MODE-LOCKING OF CONTINUOUS-WAVE SOLID-STATE LASERS

We present the analysis of a new technique for mode locking cw solid-s tate lasers. The mode-locking mechanism consists of a combination of a laser carrier frequency shift from the center of gain band caused by insertion of a knife-edge into the intracavity prism section and self- phase modulation. It results in the quasisoliton formation of ultrasho rt pulses. An investigation of the soliton parameters versus the laser system parameters and a nonlinear analysis of soliton stability are p resented that show new possibilities for highly efficient mode locking of solid-state lasers. (C) 1995 Optical Society of America