Diode-pumped sub-100 fs Kerr-lens mode-locked Yb3+:Sc2O3 ceramic laser

Diode-pumped Kerr-lens mode-locked laser operations of Yb3+:Sc2O3 ceramics have been achieved. 92 fs pulses with the average power of 850 mW under 3.89 W incident pump power were obtained at a center wavelength of 1042 nm. The optical-to-optical efficiency was 21.9%. 90 fs pulses with the average power of 160 mW were also obtained at a center wavelength of 1092 nm. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a Kerr-lens mode-locked Yb3+:Sc2O3 laser.     

Tunable second harmonic generation from a Kerr-lens mode-locked Yb:YCa_4O(BO_3)_3 femtosecond laser

We experimentally demonstrated a diode-pumped Kerr-lens mode-locked femtosecond(fs) laser with a self-frequency doubling Yb:YCa_4O(BO_3)_3 crystal.Sub-40 fs laser pulses were directly generated from the oscillator without extracavity compression.The central wavelength was tunable from 1039 nm to 1049 nm with a typical bandwidth of 35 nm and an average output power of 53 mW.For the first time,a self-frequency doubled second harmonic green laser with tunable range from 519 nm to 525 nm was observed.     

Ultralow-threshold Kerr-lens mode-locked Ti:Al(2)O(3) laser

An ultralow-threshold Kerr-lens mode-locked Ti:Al(2)O(3) laser achieved by use of an extended cavity design is demonstrated. Mode-locking thresholds as low as 156 mW are achieved. Pulses with durations as short as 14 fs and bandwidths of >100 nm with output powers of ~15 mW at 50-MHz repetition rates are generated by only 200 mW of pump power. Reducing the pump power requirements to a factor of 10x less than required by most conventional Kerr-lens mode-locked lasers permits inexpensive, low-power pump lasers to be used. This will facilitate the development of low-cost, high-performance femtosecond Ti:Al(2)O(3) laser technology.     

Apatite-structure crystal, Yb(3+):SrY(4)(SiO(4))(3)O, for the development of diode-pumped femtosecond lasers

We report what is believed to be the first diode-pumped Yb(3+): SrY(4)(SiO(4)) (3)O laser. We investigate both the cw and the mode-locked regimes. In the cw regime an average output power of 1.05 W is demonstrated for 3.6 W of incident pump power. In the femtosecond regime a pulse duration of 94 fs for an average power of 110 mW is obtained at a central wavelength of 1068 nm. This is, to our knowledge, the first femtosecond mode-locked oscillator made with an Yb-doped apatitelike crystal. These properties are related to the unique spectroscopic properties of Yb(3+) ions in this atypical apatite-family crystal.     

Efficient diode-pumped Yb3+:Y2SiO5 and Yb3+:Lu2SiO5 high-power femtosecond laser operation

We report the mode-locked operation of two new Yb-doped oxyorthosilicates, Y2SiO5 (YSO) and Lu2SiO5 (LSO), that are longitudinally diode pumped. Yb:YSO supplied pulses as short as 122 fs with 410 mW of output power at 1041 nm. More than 2.6 W of average output power, for pulse durations of 198 fs at 1044 nm and 260 fs at 1059 nm for Yb:YSO and Yb:LSO, respectively, were provided. These are, to our best knowledge, the highest values ever obtained and the most efficient mode-locked laser in such a classic fiber-coupled diode-pumping configuration.     

Diode-pumped femtosecond Yb:CaNb2O6 laser

We report to our knowledge a diode-pumped passively mode-locked Yb:CaNb(2)O(6) (Yb:CN) laser for the first time. Both CW and passive mode-locking operation of the laser are experimentally investigated. A maximum CW output power of 1.4 W with a slope efficiency of 20% is obtained on a 7 mm long 1.5 at.% Yb:CN crystal, while stable passive mode-locking with a commercial semiconductor saturable absorption mirror (SESAM) was achieved on a 3 mm long 3 at.% Yb:CN crystal. The mode-locked pulses have pulse width of 251 fs and an average output power of 44 mW at 1038 nm.     

Diode-pumped Kerr-lens mode-locked femtosecond Yb:YAG ceramic laser

We experimentally demonstrated a diode-pumped Kerr-lens mode-locked femtosecond laser based on an Yb:YAG ceramic. Stable laser pulses with 97-fs duration, 2.8-nJ pulse energy, and 320-mW average power were obtained. The femtosecond oscillator operated at a central wavelength of 1049 nm and a repetition rate of 115 MHz. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a Kerr-lens mode-locked operation in a diode-pumped Yb:YAG ceramic laser with sub-100 fs pulse duration.     

Diode-pumped Yb:Sr(3)Y(BO(3))(3) femtosecond laser

We have developed a diode-pumped Yb(3+)Sr(3)Y(BO(3))(3) (Yb:BOYS) laser generating 69-fs pulses, at a central wavelength of 1062 nm. This laser is mode locked by use of a semiconductor saturable-absorber mirror and emits 80 mW of average power at 113 MHz. This is, to our knowledge, the first mode-locked Yb:BOYS laser and the shortest duration obtained from an ytterbium laser with a crystalline host. The central wavelength can be tuned from 1051 to 1070 nm, for sub-100-fs pulses. We have also achieved an average power as high as 300 mW with pulse duration of 86 fs at 1068 nm.     

Diode-pumped Kerr-lens mode-locked Yb:KY(WO(4))(2) laser

A self-starting Kerr-lens mode-locked Yb:KY(WO(4))(2) laser directly end pumped by two 1.6-W diodes is demonstrated for what is to our knowledge the first time. Pulses as short as 71 fs with 120-mW average output power, at a center wavelength of 1057 nm, were obtained at a repetition rate of 110 MHz. A 10-nm tuning range was achieved with longer pulses and higher average output power.     

Diode-pumped continuous-wave and femtosecond laser operations of a heterocomposite crystal Yb3+: SrY4(SiO4)3O parallel Y2Al5O12

We report cw and femtosecond laser operations under diode pumping of a diffusion-bonding heterocomposite Yb-doped crystal: Yb3+:SrY4(SiO4)3O parallel Y2Al5O12(YAG paralell SYS:Yb). To show the advantages of this heterocomposite crystal over classical Yb:SYS crystal, we first investigate the high-power cw regime. A cw power of 4.3 W is demonstrated. The femtosecond regime is also investigated, and 1-W-average-power, 130-fs pulses at 1070 nm are produced, which represents, to our knowledge, the first demonstration of an Yb-doped heterocomposite mode-locked laser.     

Spectroscopy and femtosecond laser performance of Yb3+:YAlO3 crystal

We report what we believe to be the first demonstration of cw and passively mode-locked Yb(3+):YAlO(3) (Yb:YAP) laser operation under diode pumping. Spectroscopic properties of a 0.6 at.%Yb(3+)-doped YAP single crystal were investigated. Output power up to 1.2 W with slope efficiency of 64.5% in the cw regime and 225 fs pulse duration with average power of 0.8 W from a mode-locked Yb:YAP laser were demonstrated.     

10% Yb3+-Lu2O3 ceramic laser with 74% efficiency

We demonstrate laser oscillation at 1080 nm with more than 16 W of output power and with an optical-to-optical slope efficiency of up to 74% using a 10% Yb3+ doped Lu2O3 ceramic made by hot pressing. This represents the highest output power and efficiency obtained for a Yb3+ doped Lu2O3 ceramic and demonstrates the feasibility for power scaling.     

High-power 200 fs Kerr-lens mode-locked Yb:YAG thin-disk oscillator

We demonstrate a power-scalable Kerr-lens mode-locked Yb:YAG thin-disk oscillator. It delivers 200 fs pulses at an average power of 17 W and a repetition rate of 40 MHz. At an increased (180 W) pump power level, the laser produces 270 fs 1.1 μJ pulses at an average power of 45 W (optical-to-optical efficiency of 25%). Semiconductor-saturable-absorber-mirror-assisted Kerr-lens mode locking (KLM) and pure KLM with a hard aperture show similar performance. To our knowledge, these are the shortest pulses achieved from a mode-locked Yb:YAG disk oscillator and this is the first demonstration of a Kerr-lens mode-locked thin-disk laser.     

Yb,Na:PbF(2): a potential new high-power laser material

Yb:PbF(2) and Yb,Na:PbF(2) laser crystals are grown by the Bridgman method. Room-temperature absorption, photoluminescence spectra, and fluorescence lifetimes of Yb(3+) ions in the crystals have been investigated. Experimental results show that Na(+) ions codoping with Yb(3+) as charge compensators can suppress the deoxidization of Yb(3+) to Yb(2+). The result of diode-pumped laser operation of a Yb,Na:PbF(2) single crystal is reported for the first time to the best of our knowledge . With a 1mol.%Yb(3+)-doped sample, we obtained 2.37W output power at 1056nm for 17.9W of incident power at 978nm.     

Green Er(3+):YLiF(4) upconversion laser at 551nm with Yb(3+) codoping: a novel pumping scheme

We report room-temperature continuous-wave upconversion laser emission on the green transition (4)S(3/2)?(4)I(15/2) in Er(1%), Yb(3%):YLiF(4) at 551nm. Green laser operation was obtained for titanium-sapphire pump wavelengths continuously tunable between 955 and 974.5nm. Codoping with Yb(3+) resulted in a more efficient excitation of the upper laser level by upconversion processes. The maximum green laser output power was 37mW at an incident titanium-sapphire pump power level of 1580mW at 966nm.     

Ultralow-pump-threshold, femtosecond Cr(3+):LiSrAlF(6)laser pumped by a single narrow-stripe AlGaInP laser diode

We report what we believe to be the first demonstration of a Kerr-lens mode-locked Cr(3+):LiSrAlF(6)laser that is pumped by a single narrow-stripe AlGaInP laser diode with a diffraction-limited output beam. A novel low-loss three-mirror laser cavity design is described in which strong, localized Kerr lensing was exploited such that 75-fs-duration pulses were obtained for only 36mW of incident pump power. This pump power was maintained for 18h by just three AA batteries as the electrical power source. We have shown that mode locking can be sustained for pump powers as low as 22mW.     

Generation of 15 W femtosecond laser pulse from a Kerr-lens mode-locked Yb:YAG thin-disk oscillator

We demonstrated a robust power-scalable Kerr-lens mode-locked(KLM) operation based on a Yb:YAG thin-disk oscillator.15-W,272-fs pulses were realized at a repetition rate of 86.7 MHz with an additional Kerr medium and a 2.5 mm hard aperture in the cavity.247-fs pulses with an average power of 11 W could also be obtained by using a 2.4 mm hard aperture.Based on this shorter pulse,high efficient second-harmonic generation(SHG) was performed with a 1.7-mm-long Li B3O5(LBO) crystal.The SHG laser power was up to 5 W with the power fluctuation RMS of 1% measured over one hour.     

Output-coupling-dependent polarization state of a continuous-wave Yb:YCa4O(BO3)3 laser

High-power continuous-wave laser operation was demonstrated with a y-cut Yb:YCa(4)O(BO(3))(3) crystal, showing critical dependence on the output coupler used. Polarized laser oscillation with E||x was obtained at 1085.6 nm by using a coupler of 0.5% transmission, yielding an output power of 7.3 W with an optical-to-optical efficiency of 63%. Higher output couplings (>/=2%) led to polarized oscillation with E||z at laser wavelengths 相似文献   

Diode-pumped femtosecond Yb:KGd(WO(4))(2) laser with 1.1-W average power

We demonstrate what is to our knowledge the first mode-locked Yb:KGd(WO(4))(2) laser. Using a semiconductor saturable-absorber mirror for passive mode locking, we obtain pulses of 176-fs duration with an average power of 1.1 W and a peak power of 64 kW at a center wavelength of 1037 nm. We achieve pulses as short as 112 fs at a lower output power. The laser is based on a standard delta cavity and pumped by two high-brightness laser diodes, making the whole system very simple and compact. Tuning the laser by means of a knife-edge results in mode-locked pulses within a wavelength range from 1032 to 1054 nm. In cw operation, we achieve output powers as high as 1.3 W.     

Power scaling method for 2-microm diode-cladding-pumped Tm(3+)-doped silica fiber lasers that uses Yb(3+) codoping

Unidirectional dual-wavelength pumping at 805 and 975 nm of a Tm(3+)-doped silica double-clad fiber laser that has been codoped with Yb(3+) is demonstrated. With equal 2-wt. % concentrations of the Tm(3+) and Yb(3+) ions, slope efficiencies of 49% (57%) and 35% (40%) with respect to the launched (absorbed) pump power of the 805- and 975-nm pump wavelengths, respectively, were obtained. Efficient Yb(3+) --> Tm(3+) energy transfer and efficient cross relaxation combined with minimal upconversion losses were thus operating. At the maximum output power of 18 W, the fiber laser operated at a center wavelength of 2050 nm.