Realizing self-similar pulses in solid-state laser systems

A novel path to achieving self-similar pulses in an all-normal-dispersion solid-state laser resonator is presented and numerically examined. The spatially asymptotic self-similar solution to the nonlinear Schroedinger equation with gain is approached over many cavity round trips and the resultant steady-state solution, stabilized with a saturable absorber possessing a nearly rectangular power response profile, displays minimal spectral, temporal, and amplitude breathing. This method simplifies cavity construction and allows for a more than thirtyfold increase in pulse energy when compared to dispersion-managed soliton mode-locking schemes. A path to directly generable microJoule femtosecond pulses is identified.