Exploring spatio-temporal dynamics of an optically pumped semiconductor laser with intracavity second harmonic generation

Abstract

We experimentally observe an intriguing phenomenon of complex spatio-temporal dynamics in a commercial optically pumped semiconductor laser with intracavity second harmonic generation. We numerically verify that the experimental results come from the total mode locking of TEM00 and higher-order modes with significant astigmatism. The scenarios of the spatio-temporal dynamics are quite similar to the phenomena in soft-aperture Kerr-lens mode locked Ti:sapphire lasers.