Multidimensional coupling owing to optical nonlinearities II Results

Abstract

We compare three computational techniques developed in the preceding paper [J. Opt. Soc. Am. 13, 553 (1996)] that account for the effects of nonlinear coupling on light propagating through nonlinear, dispersive media. We demonstrate that all three techniques give reasonable accuracy under conditions typical of a self-modelocked laser. We further show that these techniques are greatly superior to techniques that neglect nonlinear coupling in that they give results that are more accurate and, in some cases, qualitatively different. We demonstrate such a qualitative difference by using the example of a self-mode-locked (Kerr-lens mode-locked) Ti:sapphire laser that has only one cavity solution when nonlinear coupling is included yet two cavity solutions when nonlinear coupling is neglected.

Multidimensional coupling owing to optical nonlinearities I General formulation

“…12is often a good approximation. We demonstrate this in the accompanying paper 26 by considering a specific example of a pulse propagating in a nonlinear medium and comparing the numerical results obtained with and without the assumption of Eq. 12.…”

“…We have presented three computational techniques, two of which were derived for the first time to our knowledge, for including the effects of nonlinear coupling on the propagation of light through nonlinear, dispersive media. In the paper that follows 26 we compare the accuracy of these three techniques. We also show how to propagate through optical elements and inside cavities, and we demonstrate the importance of nonlinear coupling by considering a specific self-mode-locked laser as an example.…”

Regenerative Amplification of Femtosecond Pulses: Design andConstruction of a sub-100fs, muon J Laser System

“…However, it was shown that the effect should be included in the previously mentioned theory. Descriptions incorporating both the spatial beam alteration and nonlinear coupling produce more accurate results [9].…”