The buildup dynamics of a homogeneously broadened continuous-wave Ti:sapphire laser is experimentally investigated for the first time to our knowledge. The average output power of the laser exhibits relaxation oscillation behavior initially and approaches the steady-state value in ≈20 µs. Concurrently, the longitudinal-mode spectrum evolves from a multicluster spectral distribution (tentatively attributed to the spectral windowing effect of the Brewster-angle-cut Ti:sapphire crystal as a birefringent filter) to a single cluster at 787.5 nm. The spectral narrowing (which is due to gain competition in the homogeneously broadened medium), however, takes ≈500 µs. Physical mechanisms that explain qualitatively the two distinctive time scales are presented.

© 1992 Optical Society of America

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