SOLID-STATE LASER MODE-LOCKING BY SELF-INDUCED TRANSPARENCY IN A THININTRACAVITY ABSORBER

Due to self-induced transparency in an intracavity single-quantum-well absorber, 2 pi pulses in the sub-10-fs time domain are shown to be ge nerated by use of a broadband solid-state laser. The steady-state 2 pi -pulse displays nonlinear frequency chirp owing to self-phase modulati on in the quantum-well absorber and laser crystal which can be compens ated by group velocity dispersion control in the resonator.