DIFFERENTIAL GAIN AND BUILDUP DYNAMICS OF SELF-STARTING KERR LENS MODE-LOCKED TI-SAPPHIRE LASER WITHOUT AN INTERNAL APERTURE

The small-signal differential gain was calculated from the measured av erage cw and Kerr lens mode-locked (KLM) output powers over the least- misalignment-sensitive region of a completely soft-aperturing, self-st arting KLM Ti:sapphire laser. The results indicate that the self-start ing condition is reached with this laser operating near the center of the stable range. The simulated location of maximum differential gain and pulse buildup process show good agreement with the experimental re sults. (C) 1997 Optical Society of America.