Since a new mode-locking technique based on the Kerr nonlinearity in a laser rod wasdemonstrated for generation of highly stable and broadly tunable femtosecond pulses by asolid-state Ti: Al203 laser, experimental and theoretical studies on this technique have beenextensively developed. As a result, extremely short pulses, as short as 8 fs, were directly producedfrom the higher-order dispersion-compensated, self-mode-locked Ti: Al203 laser cavity. The tunable solid-state lasers have opened the door to the study of ultrafast quantum electronicsand related new fields.
This paper describes recent advances in the tunable femtosecond solid-state lasers including Kerr-lens mode-locking, solitary laser, effect of higher-order dispersion and compact LDpumpedlasers.
