Abstract

Due to their large amplification bandwidth dye lasers can advantageously be used to generate light pulses of subpicosecond duration. Various techniques have been developed to satisfy different requirements for the pulse parameters. The aim of this paper is to discuss essential processes limiting the achievable pulse duration in the three basic cw mode-locking techniques: synchronous pumping, passive and hybrid mode-locking. In all three cases the analysis is based on numerical simulation procedures^1,2 which avoid restricting assumptions concerning the steady state solution and which provide a possibility to study the evolution of the intensity and the phase of the generated pulse.

© 1988 Optical Society of America