PASSIVE MODE LOCKING OF A Nd3+:YAG LASER WITH A SATURABLE ABSORBER IN THE FORM OF THIN FILMS OF J-AGGREGATES.

A novel type of a saturable absorber for passive mode locking was proposed. As the novel saturable absorber, we studied the thin solid films of the molecular J-aggregates of polymethyn dyes. The films of the J-aggregates were prepared using different polymethyn dyes. Linear and nonlinear optical properties of these films were investigated. Passive mode locking using these films as the saturable absorber was performed in a Nd³⁺:YAG laser. Stable generation of short pulses (pulse duration 13 ps) was achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]