Passive mode-locking techniques of lasers
Journal
International Journal of High Speed Electronics and Systems
Journal Volume
8
Journal Issue
4
Pages
599-619
Date Issued
1998-01
Author(s)
Abstract
In the frequency domain, mode-locking of a laser is to "lock" the relative phase of various iongitudinal modes in order to form pulses. In many applications, passive mode-locking is superior to active mode-locking because the former does not need any external active sources as required for the latter. For passive mode-locking, we only need certain nonlinear effects to produce pulse compression mechanisms in laser systems. When the compression mechanism is balanced with some broadening effects, such as group-velocity dispersion, stable pulses can be obtained. In this paper, we first review several passive mode-locking techniques by explaining the pulse compression mechanisms. These techniques include saturable absorption mode-locking, colliding-pulse mode-locking, additive-pulse mode-locking, Kerr-lens mode-locking, nonlinear polarization mode-locking and nonlinear coupling mode-locking. Then, we review some of our research results related to nonlinear polarization mode-locking, nonlinear coupling mode-locking and additive-pulse mode-locking. These results come from the experimental, theoretical and numerical studies of fiber and semiconductor lasers.
SDGs
Type
journal article