Change in the shape of frequency-modulated light pulses during amplification

An analysis is made of the propagation of a frequency-modulated light pulse in a linearly amplifying medium with an inhomogeneously broadened gain profile. It is shown that a pulse can be compressed considerably during amplification. Conditions are established under which strong distortions of the pulse shape may result in its splitting. An analysis is made of the influence of the phase self-modulation of radiation on the shape of ultrashort light pulses in oscillators and amplifiers.