Mode locking in a cw solid-state laser by self-focusing under dynamic gain-saturation conditions

Experimental and theoretical investigations showed that dynamic gain saturation in the presence of self-phase modulation shifts the emission wavelength of ultrashort pulses to the red or blue part of the spectrum of lasers mode-locked by self-focusing. Selection of the ratios of the rates of saturation of the gain and losses in the presence of such a shift makes it possible to increase mode-locking stability.