Theory of generation of sub-10-fs pulses in a cw solid-state laser with a semiconductor passive switch and self-focusing under coherent-interaction conditions

An analysis made on the basis of the theory of the self-consistent field shows the possibility of production of ultrashort sub-10-fs soliton-like pulses in a solid-state laser with a coherent semiconductor switch in the absence of mode-locking caused by self-focusing. Mode-locking caused by self-focusing leads to the formation of an extremely short sech-shaped pulse. In this case, the restriction imposed on the minimum modulation degree in a passive semiconductor switch that provides self-starting USP generation is lifted.