Abstract

A new theoretical and experimental model for a non-cavity-length-matched additive pulse mode-locking laser is presented. The equations describing the new kind of laser are also given in this paper. Numerical calculations were completed, and the results show the effect of parameters on the operation of the non-cavity-length-matched additive pulse mode-locking laser. The relations between the compression rate of pulse width and the cavity parameters were obtained, as were the optimum operation conditions for this new kind of laser. In the experiments, a nonlinear antiresonant ring was used to shorten the pulse, instead of a nonlinear coupled cavity. It is very easy to change the amount of the nonlinear phase shift by changing the reflectivity of the beam splitter in the nonlinear antiresonant ring. Stable operation of the non-cavity-length-matched additive pulse mode-locking laser with Nd:YAG as the gain medium was realized. A stable mode-locking pulse train with a pulse width of 88 ps and power of 0.5 W for a 200 MHz repetition rate has been obtained.

© 1992 Optical Society of America