Title :
Analysis of periodic pulse evolutions in a passively mode-locked ring dye laser
Author :
Avramopoulos, H. ; French, P.M.W. ; New, G.H.C. ; Opalinska, Magda M. ; Taylor, J.R. ; Williams, J.A.R.
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Phys., Imperial Coll., London, UK
fDate :
12/1/1989 12:00:00 AM
Abstract :
Complex pulse evolutions, observed in a passively mode-locked continuous phase modulated ring dye laser, that are highly sensitive to the frequency chirping processes in the laser cavity are investigated. For particular values of intracavity group velocity dispersion, the pulse evolutions are periodic and reminiscent of soliton evolutions. A numerical model of the laser that successfully simulates the qualitative features of the real laser output temporally and spectrally is described. A careful investigation of the numerical model shows that, in the case of strong mode locking, the observed periodic pulse evolutions are not solitonlike, but result from a combination of frequency chirp and spectral walkoff. A distinct regime is identified where solitonlike pulse evolutions are sustained, and the transition between the two modes of operation is related to the strength of the mode locking
Keywords :
dye lasers; laser cavity resonators; laser mode locking; optical dispersion; optical modulation; phase modulation; ring lasers; solitons; continuous phase modulated; frequency chirping; intracavity group velocity dispersion; laser cavity; laser mode transitions; mode locking strength; nonsolitonlike pulse evolutions; numerical model; passively mode-locked ring dye laser; periodic pulse evolutions; soliton evolutions; solitonlike pulse evolutions; spectral laser output; spectral walkoff; strong mode locking; temporal laser output; Chirp; Frequency; Laser mode locking; Nonlinear optics; Optical filters; Optical pulse generation; Optical pulses; Optical saturation; Ring lasers; Ultrafast optics;
Journal_Title :
Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of
