Mode Locking At and Below the CW Threshold
Optics
2013-01-03 v1
Abstract
We explore experimentally a new regime of operation for mode locking in a Ti:Sapphire laser with enhanced Kerr nonlinearity, where the threshold for pulsed operation is lowered below the threshold for continuous-wave (CW) operation. Even though a CW solution cannot exist in this regime, pulsed oscillation can be realized directly from zero CW oscillation. In this regime, the point of maximum strength of the Kerr nonlinear process provides a "sweet spot" for mode locking, which can be optimized to considerably lower the pump power threshold. The properties of the "sweet spot" are explained with a qualitative model.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.1301.0236,
title = {Mode Locking At and Below the CW Threshold},
author = {Shai Yefet and Avi Pe'er},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1301.0236},
year = {2013}
}
Comments
3 pages, 4 figures