Kerr-lens mode-locked diode-pumped Cr:LiSGAF laser

Opt Lett. 1995 Jun 1;20(11):1304-6. doi: 10.1364/ol.20.001304.

Abstract

We have demonstrated stable and self-sustaining Kerr-lens mode locking of a Cr:LiSGAF laser pumped by AlGaInP laser diodes. A hard aperture near one end of the laser provides the necessary amplitude modulation. This allsolid- state system generates transform-limited 100-fs pulses, tunable from 810 to 860 nm. The average power at 830 nm is 35 mW, with fluctuations of much less than 1%. The thermal properties of Cr:LiSGAF will permit scaling of these results to higher power.