Self-stabilizing additive-pulse mode-locking due to thermo-optical non-linearity in an optical fiber

, 1671 (1991)] described a Nd:YLF APM laser which somehow automatically adjusted the relative resonator phase. We reproduce this behavior and analyse its origin. Thermal effects due to the light power guided in the fiber affect the effective fiber length, which in turn influences the phase and thus the power level; hence a closed servo loop results. We demonstrate this explanation to be correct in quantitative terms. Consequences arise for other systems involving fiber-optic loops or interferometers.