The transient process of pulse shortening in a laser with a nonlinear external cavity is studied by numerical calculations. The effect of normal fiber dispersion on the steady-state output parameters is investigated. The main features of the pulse-shortening process can be understood by simple arguments. The numerical simulations indicate that pulse shortening is accompanied by an increase in the chirp of the master resonator pulse. It is shown that a chirped master resonator pulse in the presence of dispersion diminishes the pulse shortening and results in longer stationary pulses. If the chirp is strong enough, pulse shortening is even reversed into pulse lengthening. Our conclusions are supported by experimental observations.

© 1991 Optical Society of America

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Citation lists with outbound citation links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Cited by links are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription

You do not have subscription access to this journal. Article level metrics are available to subscribers only. You may subscribe either as an OSA member, or as an authorized user of your institution.

Contact your librarian or system administrator
or
Log in to access OSA Member Subscription