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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2025

Low-cost Custom Fabrication and Mode-locked Operation of an All-normal-dispersion Femtosecond Fiber Laser for Multiphoton Microscopy

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SESAM-assisted Kerr-lens mode-locked Cr:ZnS laser.

Maciej Kowalczyk, Ivan Davydenko, Jarosław Sotor

|September 13, 2024

Summary

This study introduces a novel SESAM-assisted Kerr-lensing mode-locking technique for Cr:ZnS lasers, achieving self-starting operation and generating ultrashort pulses. The new method overcomes limitations of traditional techniques, enabling stable and efficient laser performance.

Area of Science:

Laser physics
Ultrafast optics
Materials science

Background:

Mode-locking in Cr:ZnS/Se lasers traditionally uses Kerr-lensing (KLM) or semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors (SESAMs).
KLM offers shorter pulses but lacks self-starting capability, while SESAMs provide self-starting but limit pulse duration.

Purpose of the Study:

To combine the advantages of SESAMs and KLM for self-starting mode-locking in Cr:ZnS lasers.
To achieve ultrashort pulse generation with high average power and low noise.

Main Methods:

Development of a SESAM-assisted KLM Cr:ZnS laser oscillator.
Characterization of pulse duration, average power, central wavelength, and intensity noise.
Comparison with a pure KLM oscillator.

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Main Results:

Demonstration of a self-starting SESAM-assisted KLM Cr:ZnS laser.
Generation of 54 fs pulses at 2360 nm with 1 W average power.
Identification of finite semiconductor absorber bandwidth as a pulse shortening limitation.
Achieved exceptionally low laser intensity noise (<0.005%).

Conclusions:

SESAM-assisted KLM is an effective technique for self-starting ultrashort pulse generation in Cr:ZnS lasers.
Commercially available GaSb SESAMs were fully utilized, exploiting their reflection bands.
The chosen saturable absorbers minimally impacted laser intensity noise, highlighting the stability of the system.