Combined mode locking in solid-state lasers with self-focusing and synchronous pumping

A new method is proposed for mode locking in solid-state lasers, based on the use of synchronous pumping in systems with self-focusing of radiation on the active element. The method makes it possible to dispense with the external devices for initiating generation of ultrashort pulses. The duration of the output pulses, governed by the response time of the almost instantaneous self-focusing mechanism, approaches the minimum possible value. The permissible mismatch between the lengths of the main and pump lasers exceeds the traditional values by three orders of magnitude.