Self-induced transparency mode-locking, and area theorem

Abstract

Self-induced transparency mode-locking (or coherent mode-locking, CML) which is based on intracavity self-induced transparency soliton dynamics, allows potentially to achieve nearly single cycle intracavity pulse durations, much below the phase relaxation time $T_2$ in a laser, which, despite of great promise, has not yet been realized experimentally. We develop a diagram technique which allows to predict the main features of CML regimes in a generic two-section laser. We show that CML can arise directly at the first laser threshold if the phase relaxation time is large enough. Furthermore, CML regimes can be unconditionally stable. We also predict the existence of ``super-CML regimes``, with a pulse coupled to several Rabi oscillations in the nonlinear medium.