FREQUENCY-DOMAIN DISPERSION MEASUREMENTS IN TUNABLE MODE-LOCKED LASERS

Measurements of intracavity dispersion in operating tunable, passively mode-locked, femtosecond lasers have been performed by use of a new frequency-domain dispersion (FDD) technique. The basis for these measurements is more fully developed, and the meaning of intracavity dispersion in an operating nonlinear system is discussed. We conclude that nonlinearity, although critically important in the mode-locking dynamics, contributes little to FDD measurements; therefore FDD is essentially a linear technique.