Fourth-order dispersion-limited solitary pulses

Abstract

We analyze the performance of a Ti:sapphire self-mode-locked laser with near-zero second- and third-order dispersion. Our simulations show that, in the presence of fourth-order dispersion, solitary laser pulses can be supported within a wide parameter range, close to the experimental values of these parameters. We also conclude that it is possible to generate pulses much shorter than 10 fs if fourth-order dispersion is further reduced.