title: Sub-10-fs operation of Kerr-lens mode-locked lasers.
abstract: We present results of a three-dimensional model of a Kerr-lens mode-locked titanium-doped sapphire laser in the sub-10-fs regime of operation. We find that space-time focusing of the pulse within the laser crystal imposes a limitation on the pulse duration as a function of the crystal length. Thus good compensation of the net group-velocity dispersion of the cavity is not sufficient for successful sub-10-fs operation of the laser. The dependence of the pulse duration on the intracavity dispersion is also presented, which demonstrates that pulses as short as 6 fs can be generated directly from the laser.
authors.forename: I P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Christov
authors.forename: V D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Stoev
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Murnane
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kapteyn