Diode-pumped passively mode-locked Nd:YVO4 laser at 914 nm

Area of Science:

• Lasers and Photonics
• Solid-State Physics
• Quantum Optics

Background:

• Neodymium-doped Yttrium Orthovanadate (Nd:YVO4) lasers are widely used for various applications.
• Passively mode-locked lasers offer advantages in generating ultrashort pulses.
• Exploring new operating transitions and wavelengths in solid-state lasers is crucial for technological advancement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate, for the first time, a diode-pumped passively mode-locked Nd:YVO4 laser operating on the 4F(3/2)-4I(9/2) transition.
• To investigate the performance characteristics of this novel laser system at approximately 914 nm.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing a diode-pumped configuration for efficient energy transfer.
• Implementing passive mode-locking using a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM).
• Characterizing the output pulses in terms of duration, repetition rate, and average output power.

Main Results:

• Successfully achieved stable, diode-pumped, passively mode-locked operation of an Nd:YVO4 laser.
• Generated ultrashort pulses with a duration of 8.8 picoseconds (ps).
• Obtained an average output power of 87 milliwatts (mW) at a repetition rate of 94 megahertz (MHz) around 914 nm.

Conclusions:

• This work presents the first demonstration of a passively mode-locked Nd:YVO4 laser operating on the 4F(3/2)-4I(9/2) transition at 914 nm.
• The achieved pulse characteristics indicate the potential of this laser for applications requiring specific wavelengths and ultrashort pulses.
• The use of a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror proved effective for achieving stable mode-locking in this system.