Spectral change depending on the sequence of optical elements in a femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser

Abstract

We have numerically and experimentally verified that the sequence of optical elements in a femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser affects the output spectrum. With the same net dispersion in a cavity, the width and the shape of output spectrum was significant changed when the sequence of dispersive elements was changed in a Kerr-lens mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser with fused-silica prisms. We also showed that the dynamics of pulse formation can be affected by the output coupler's position though the combined action of output coupling and self-phase modulation. Such phenomena can be explained based on pulse formation in a laser cavity with discrete distribution of dispersion and self-phase modulation.