Pulse compression inside an actively AM mode-locked ND:YAG laser using a liquid Kerr cell

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Abstract
A mode-locked Nd :YAG laser capable of generating pulses substantially shorter than the present limit of 30–50 ps, while retaining the stability of active mode locking, would be a useful development. We present here a simplified theoretical analysis and a preliminary experimental verification of the use of an optical Kerr cell as a passive lossless pulse compressor inside a Q-switched and actively mode-locked YAG laser. The theoretical model indicates possible compression to as short as ~5 ps in a typical low-power Nd :YAG laser. The preliminary experimental results show substantial pulse compression via the predicted mechanism, though still not below ~30 ps. The technique appears capable, however, of pulse compression to substantially shorter values without the instabilities, statistical fluctuations, or energy losses associated with saturable-absorber mode locking. © 1978, IEEE. All rights reserved.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe