Ultrashort-pulse generation in a passive-mode-locked YAG:Nd laser by means of the resonator-loss-unloading method

The method of generating ultrashort pulses of extreme duration by the controlled resonator-loss unloading of pulsed solid-state lasers with a passive shutter was proposed. The conditions of prolonged maintenance of the threshold operation mode up to the bleaching point of the passive shutter were determined on the basis of calculation of the kinetics of generation. The method was realized for an YAG:Nd laser, and intense ultrashort pulses were obtained with a duration ≈12 ps corresponding to the maximum width of the generation spectrum of a nonselective resonator.