Femtosecond nonlinear polarization evolution based on cascade quadratic nonlinearities.
We experimentally demonstrate that one can exploit nonlinear phase shifts produced in type I phase-mismatched second-harmonic generation to produce intensity-dependent polarization evolution with 100-fs pulses. An amplitude modulator based on nonlinear polarization rotation provides passive amplitude-modulation depth of up to ~50%. Applications of the amplitude and phase modulations to mode locking of femtosecond bulk and fiber lasers are promising and are discussed.