LD pumped Yb:LuAG mode-locked laser with 7.63ps duration

Area of Science:

• Lasers and Photonics
• Materials Science
• Solid-State Physics

Background:

• Diode-pumped solid-state lasers are crucial for various applications.
• Ytterbium-doped materials offer advantages in the near-infrared spectrum.
• Passive mode-locking is a key technique for generating ultrashort laser pulses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate passive mode-locking of a diode-pumped Yb:LuAG laser for the first time.
• To characterize the performance of the mode-locked Yb:LuAG laser.
• To investigate the continuous-wave operation and wavelength tuning range.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM) for passive mode-locking.
• Employed diode pumping at 940nm.
• Measured pulse duration, output power, repetition rate, and wavelength tuning range.

Main Results:

• Achieved ultrashort pulses as short as 7.63 picoseconds without negative dispersion elements.
• Generated an output power of 610mW with an 11.2W pump.
• Observed a repetition rate of 86MHz.
• Demonstrated wavelength tuning from 1033nm to 1079nm.

Conclusions:

• Successfully implemented passive mode-locking in a diode-pumped Yb:LuAG laser.
• The Yb:LuAG laser shows potential for generating high-quality ultrashort pulses.
• The demonstrated tuning range is suitable for various spectroscopic and photonic applications.