Self-mode-locking of cw solid-state lasers with a nonlinear birefringent polarisation modulator

A fluctuation model is used to show that effective self-mode-locking can be achieved in cw solid-state lasers with nonlinear birefringent polarisation modulators of two types. The discriminating action of modulators is based on the rotation and distortion of the polarisation ellipse, which depends on the intensity of the radiation propagating in the birefringent medium and is related to self-phase-modulation of two polarisation components. The linear phase shift of these components and the angular orientations of the modulator parts are determined to ensure that the modulator acts as a discriminator. An analysis is made of the regions of efficient self-mode-locking of cw lasers with nonlinear birefringent modulators as a function of the laser parameters.