%0 Journal Article
%T Mode Locking At and Below the CW Threshold
%A Shai Yefet
%A Avi Pe'er
%J Physics
%D 2013
%I arXiv
%X We explore experimentally a new regime of operation for mode locking in a Ti:Sapphire laser with enhanced Kerr nonlinearity, where the threshold for pulsed operation is lowered below the threshold for continuous-wave (CW) operation. Even though a CW solution cannot exist in this regime, pulsed oscillation can be realized directly from zero CW oscillation. In this regime, the point of maximum strength of the Kerr nonlinear process provides a "sweet spot" for mode locking, which can be optimized to considerably lower the pump power threshold. The properties of the "sweet spot" are explained with a qualitative model.
%U http://arxiv.org/abs/1301.0236v1