41-fs diode-pump Kerr-lens mode-locked Yb,Y:CaF₂-SrF₂ laser

Area of Science:

• Laser Physics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Diode-pumped solid-state lasers are crucial for various applications.
• Yb-doped fluoride crystals offer potential for generating ultrashort pulses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the performance of a diode-pumped Yb,Y:CaF2-SrF2 laser.
• To achieve ultrashort pulse generation using Kerr-lens mode locking (KLM).

Main Methods:

• Utilized a diode-pumped Yb,Y:CaF2-SrF2 laser system.
• Employed soft aperture Kerr-lens mode locking (KLM) technique.

Main Results:

• Achieved pulses as short as 41 fs at a center wavelength of 1053.9 nm.
• Obtained an average output power of 40 mW with a pulse repetition rate of 97.43 MHz.
• Recorded a peak power of 8.81 kW.

Conclusions:

• This work represents the first KLM Yb,Y:CaF2-SrF2 laser.
• Yb,Y:CaF2-SrF2 crystals show significant potential for pulse shortening via KLM.