Interaction of dual-frequency pulses in passively mode-locked lasers

We have found, numerically, that three stable pulses of different shapes ca n exist in systems described by the complex Ginzburg-Landau equation, such as passively mode-locked lasers with a fast saturable absorber. At the same cavity parameter values, however, only two of them can coexist, which two depending on the particular values of the parameters, The region of existen ce for each pulse is investigated numerically. The interaction between each pair of pulses is studied numerically. Using the interaction plant techniq ue, we have found stable bound states of composite pulses, (C) 2001 Publish ed by Elsevier Science B.V.