Abstract

We demonstrate that by operating near the zero second- and third-order dispersion point in a self-mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser we can generate sub-10-fs pulses. Our numerical simulations show that the pulse duration is limited by fourth-order dispersion and that shorter pulses will be possible if this can be reduced. Also, by inserting a pellicle in various positions in a Ti:sapphire cavity, we have measured the intracavity pulse duration and chirp of the circulating pulse in the laser. Our results demonstrate that the pulse is shortest near the middle of the laser crystal, in one direction of propagation. In the other direction of propagation, the pulse is positively chirped and several times longer.

© 1994 Optical Society of America

Intracavity frequency doubling in a Ti:sapphire laser: generation of 14-fs pulses at 416 nm

S. Backus, M. T. Asaki, C. Shi, H. C. Kapteyn, and M. M. Murnane
Opt. Lett. 19(6) 399-401 (1994)

Fourth-order dispersion-limited solitary pulses

Ivan P. Christov, Margaret M. Murnane, Henry C. Kapteyn, Jianping Zhou, and Chung-Po Huang
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17-fs pulses from a self-mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser

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Generation of 11-fs pulses from a Ti:sapphire laser without the use of prisms

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