Mode-locking techniques

Mode-locking is a technique used to generate ultrashort laser pulses by synchronizing the phases of different light waves inside a laser cavity. When these waves are locked together, they interfere constructively at regular intervals, producing very brief, intense bursts of light called pulses— typically in the picosecond or femtosecond range. This is essential in applications like high-precision measurements, medical imaging, and telecommunications. Mode-locking can be achieved actively (using external modulation) or passively (using materials that naturally enforce phase synchronization), enabling lasers to produce controlled, high-quality pulses efficiently.