title: Theory of passively mode-locked lasers including self-phase modulation and group-velocity dispersion.
abstract: Closed-form analytical solutions are obtained for a passively mode-locked laser for the case in which self-phase modulation and group-velocity dispersion, in addition to the more conventional mechanisms of saturable absorption and gain, shape the laser pulses. Provided that the self-phase modulation and group-velocity dispersion are related in a manner similar to that which causes soliton formation in optical fibers, this additional pulse shaping can reduce the pulse duration below the limit otherwise set by the laser bandwidth.
authors.forename: O E
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Fork
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gordon