Wavelength-Tunable Nonlinear Mirror Mode-Locked Laser Based on MgO-Doped Lithium Niobate

Abstract

We present a high-power, wavelength-tunable picosecond Yb3+: CaGdAlO4 (Yb:CALGO) laser based on MgO-doped lithium niobate (MgO:LN) nonlinear mirror mode locking. The output wavelength in the continuous wave (CW) regime is tunable over a 45 nm broad range. Mode locking with a MgO:LN nonlinear mirror, the picosecond laser is tunable over 23 nm from 1039 to 1062 nm. The maximum output power of the mode-locked laser reaches 1.46 W, and the slope efficiency is 18.6%. The output pulse duration at 1049 nm is 8 ps. The laser repetition rate and bandwidth are 115.5 MHz and 1.7 nm, respectively.

New Trends in Lithium Niobate: From Bulk to Nanocrystals

“…Among the contributions dealing with nonlinear optical applications of LN and LT in this Special Issue, papers using both traditional bulk crystals [14][15][16] and thin films on LNOI platform [17][18][19] can be found. All are concerned with internal electric fields resulting in nonlinear response, another topic of Prof. Schirmer.…”

“…In the paper by Zhao et al [14], a laser-damage-resistant MgO-doped LN crystal is used as a nonlinear optical mirror to realize a high-power wavelength-tunable mode-locked picosecond Yb:CaGdAlO 4 laser. The tunable range was between 1039 and 1062 nm, the maximum output power reached at 1049 nm was 1.46 W, and the output pulse duration was about 8 ps, with a repetition rate and bandwidth of 115.5 MHz and 1.7 nm, respectively.…”