Dispersion phase-modulation bistability of passive mode-locked lasers

摘要

Novel mechanism resulting in generation bistability of passive mode-locked lasers is predicted. It is shown by numerical simulation that after transient evolution either stationary single pulse operation or operation in which the whole laser cavity is filled with the generated radiation can realized depending on the initial conditions. This bistability is connected with the phase-modulation instability of passive mode-locking in circumstances where the spectral gain-loss profile has a complicate form. The complicate profile can be related to a spectral selectivity of parasitic losses or to a spectral inhomogeneity of an active medium amplification. The assumed manifestations of this mechanism in actual experimental systems are discussed.