ENERGY RATE-EQUATIONS FOR MODE-LOCKED LASERS

A rate equation for pulse energy is obtained from the master equation of mode locking. This rate equation is used to investigate self-starti ng, steady-state pulse energy, stability, pulse quantization, simultan eous cw and pulse operation, hysteresis in mode locking, multiple-puls e operation, relaxation oscillations, and noise behavior. The theory a lso provides criteria for low-noise as well as high-power operation. T he formulation is applied to both soliton lasers and stretched-pulse l asers, and their operations are compared. (C) 1997 Optical Society of America.