III Generation and Propagation of Ultrashort Optical Pulses

Abstract

This chapter describes the generation and propagation of ultrashort optical pulses. The generation of ultrashort pulses can be recognized as a problem for “making in phase” a great number of frequencies, whereas the interaction processes lead to dephasing of these frequencies. In most cases of light-matter interaction, the effects caused by the quantum-noise fluctuations are negligible or they can be described phenomenologically. The chapter discusses the theoretical basis necessary to study the light-matter interaction. The simultaneous action of both the lasing medium and resonator leads to the formation of subpicosecond optical pulses. Some methods for generating femtosecond optical pulses are described in the chapter. The linear and nonlinear effects appear when a femtosecond pulse propagates in free space or in substances. Some applications in the field of optical communications and data processing are presented in the chapter.