Abstract

Numerical simulations that take into account propagation, self-focusing, and gain saturation in solid-state lasers reveal that self-mode locking can take place in such lasers even in the absence of apertures. The combination of self-focusing and gain saturation produces a differential gain that favors the growth of short pulses and eliminates cw oscillations. Nonsymmetrical cavities can provide a substantial differential gain when they are operated near a stability limit.

© 1993 Optical Society of America

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