SPATIOTEMPORAL MODEL OF FEMTOSECOND PULSE GENERATION IN KERR-LENS MODE-LOCKED SOLID-STATE LASERS

A spatiotemporal model for the evolution process of the pulse and beam shapes in femtosecond Kerr-lens mode-locked solid-state lasers is pre sented. For different cavity configurations we comprehensively studied the dependence of the pulse and beam parameters on laser-control para meters such as pump rate, linear phase dispersion up to fourth order, self-phase modulation, and self-amplitude modulation owing to nonlinea r resonator transmission. We determine the conditions for the ultimate shortest pulse duration. The influence of third- and fourth-order dis persion results in spectral sidebands, which are phase matched with th e peak, of the principal spectrum. Excessive fourth-order dispersion y ields a steady-state multipulse operating regime with constant peak se paration. (C) 1998 Optical Society of America.