A reflection-type single-walled carbon nanotube saturable absorber fabricated by a vertical evaporation method was to our knowledge first used in a passively mode-locked Yb(3+):Sc(2)SiO(5)(Yb:SSO) laser. The laser operated at a repetition frequency of 94 MHz with a central wavelength of 1062.6 nm. A short pulse duration of 1.8 ps was produced with an average power of 349 mW; and the highest pulse energy of 3.7 nJ, corresponding to its maximum peak power, can reach 2.1 kW.

By using a reflective graphene oxide as saturable absorber, a diode-pumped passively mode-locked Yb 3+ :Sc 2 SiO 5 (Yb:SSO) laser has been demonstrated for the first time. Without extra negative dispersion compensation, the minimum pulse duration of 1.7 ps with a repetition rate of 94 MHz was obtained at the central wavelength of 1062.6 nm. The average output power amounts to 355 mW under the absorbed pump power of 15 W. The maximum peak power of the mode-locking laser is up to 2.2 kW, and the single pulse energy is 3.8 nJ.