Soliton and collapse regimes of pulse generation in passively mode-locking laser systems

Abstract

The collapse and soliton regimes for pulse generation and compression in laser systems employing passive mode locking by Kerr-effect or additive-pulse mode locking are examined. Using a phenomenological laser model introduced by Haus [J. Appl. Phys. 46, 3049 (1975)] for homogeneously broadened systems, we have found three distinct regimes of pulse generation. We attempt to satisfy both the condition of pulse generation from noise and the stability requirement, considering the generation of a train of quasi-stable localized pulses in the parameter region where a single soliton is unstable.