Solid-state ring laser with self-pumping waves operating under active mode-locking conditions

Theoretical and experimental investigations were made of the amplitude and frequency characteristics of a rotating solid-state (YAG:Nd³⁺) ring laser with self-pumping waves. The self-pumping wave method produced effectively the competition between opposite waves and made it possible to achieve a stable beat regime in this laser. The use of self-pumping waves in a solid-state laser under active mode-locking conditions was found to have a number of advantages over free running. Various methods for generation of self-pumping waves under active mode-locking conditions were proposed and tested experimentally: this demonstrated ways of improving considerably the amplitude and frequency characteristics of the rotating solid-state laser.