Three-element, self-starting Kerr-lens-modelocked 1-GHz Ti:sapphire oscillator pumped by a single laser diode

Area of Science:

• * Ultrafast laser technology
• * Nonlinear optics
• * Laser engineering

Background:

• * Ti:sapphire lasers are crucial for generating ultrashort optical pulses.
• * Diode-pumping offers efficiency and compactness compared to traditional methods.
• * Kerr-lens mode-locking is a key technique for achieving femtosecond pulse durations.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To develop a simple, self-starting, diode-pumped Ti:sapphire laser.
• * To achieve ultrashort pulse durations with high repetition rates.
• * To evaluate the laser's noise performance and repetition rate stability.

Main Methods:

• * Employed a three-element Kerr-lens mode-locked cavity design.
• * Utilized a single 527-nm laser diode for pumping the Ti:sapphire crystal.
• * Characterized pulse duration, output power, relative intensity noise, and repetition rate stability.

Main Results:

• * Achieved 111-fs pulse durations at a 1.02 GHz repetition frequency.
• * Demonstrated self-starting soliton mode-locked operation with 106 mW output power.
• * Measured low relative intensity noise (0.06% over 1 Hz-1 MHz) and repetition rate phase error (1.7 mrad).

Conclusions:

• * The developed laser is a compact and efficient source of ultrashort pulses.
• * Its self-starting capability and stability make it suitable for various applications.
• * The laser's simplicity facilitates integration into larger optical systems.