Tuning characteristics of a mode-locked Ar+ laser

The phase characteristics were used to detect changes in the velocity of light pulses for different parameters of an actively mode-locked Ar⁺ laser. Explanations are given of the asymmetry of the duration of the pulses when the resonator was detuned from the optimal value and of the reduction in the average laser output power when a transition was made to a mode-locked regime. The laser emission spectra were investigated.