10-fs pulse generation from a unidirectional Kerr-lens mode-locked Ti:sapphire ring laser

For the first time to our knowledge, nearly bandwidth-limited 10-fs laser pulses centered at 790 nm are generated in a Ti:sapphire ring resonator. Intracavity dispersion control is provided by dispersive dielectric mirrors together with the insertion of small amounts of intracavity glass path. Mode locking is self-starting without the use of an aperture.