Diode-pumped 65 fs Kerr-lens mode-locked Yb^3+:Lu_2O_3 and nondoped Y_2O_3 combined ceramic laser

Abstract

Diode-pumped Kerr-lens mode-locked laser operation of Yb(3+):Lu(2)O(3) and nondoped Y(2)O(3) combined ceramics has been achieved; 65 fs pulses with an average power of 320 mW under 5 W of pump power were obtained at the center wavelength of 1032 nm. The spectral bandwidth and the time bandwidth product were 18.9 and 0.345 nm, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a Kerr-lens mode-locked laser operation based on Yb(3+):Lu(2)O(3) ceramic.

High-power ultrafast thin disk laser oscillators and their potential for sub-100-femtosecond pulse generation

“…This requires a growth method that can provide crystals of this diameter in high optical quality, such as the Czochralski method [62] or the heat exchanger method (HEM) [63]. Ceramic laser materials might be an interesting alternative [64], but at this time superior performance has not yet been proved in the thin disk approach. Furthermore, until recently, only cubic lattices could be produced as ceramics.…”

Towards a Compact Thin-Disk-Based Femtosecond XUV Source

“…Thus, with a rather high SAM coefficient it is possible to exploit spectral broadening due to SPM in order to reduce the pulse duration. This was done in, for example, [40,41] with bulk KLM Yb:Lu 2 O 3 and Ti:Sa oscillators, respectively. In the case of high-power/energy operation, however, the emission-bandwidth-limited oscillator performance is a reasonable and good goal to aim for.…”

High-Power and High Efficiency Yb:YAG Ceramic Laser at Room Temperature

“…The emission and absorption spectra and thermal conductivity strongly depend on the host material. Recently, various ceramic materials have been progressively investigated for use in ultrashort-pulse lasers , (Tokurakawa et al, 2006), , (Tokurakawa et al, 2007), (Tokurakawa et al, 2008). A diode-pumped femtosecond Yb:Y 2 O 3 ceramic laser was demonstrated, and 615 fs pulses at a center wavelength of 1076.5 nm were obtained with a 420 mW average power .…”

“…A diodepumped Kerr lens mode-locked laser of Yb 3+ :Sc 2 O 3 ceramics was demonstrated with 92 fs pulses at a center wavelength of 1042 nm and an 850 mW average power, and 90 fs pulses at a center wavelength of 1092 nm and a 160 mW average power (Tokurakawa et al, 2007). A diode-pumped Kerr lens mode-locked laser with Yb 3+ :Lu 2 O 3 and undoped Y 2 O 3 combined ceramics was demonstrated, and 65 fs pulses at a center wavelength of 1032 nm with a 320 mW average power were obtained (Tokurakawa et al, 2008). In previous reports on Yb:YAG ceramic lasers, there is no description of the mode locking of lasers.…”