Optimization of the mode-locked Nd:YVO4 laser with a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror

By taking into account the effects of group-delay dispersion (GDD) and self-phase modulation (SPM), an analytic model describing the generation of a pulse in a passively mode-locked laser is developed in order to establish simulation while optimizing a mode-locked Nd:YVO4 laser with a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM), based on the saturable absorber mode-locking theory developed by Haus. Then, the pulse evolution equations are solved numerically through split step Fourier transform method to obtain the dependence of the pulse characteristics on cavity length, group-delay dispersion (GDD), output coupling rate, and pump power, and to determine the key parameters of an optimized mode-locked Nd:YVO4 laser.