High-average-power (&gt;20-W) Nd:YVO_4 lasers mode locked by strain-compensated saturable Bragg reflectors

Burns, D.; Hetterich, M.; Ferguson, A. I.; Bente, Eajm Erwin; Dawson, Martin D.; Davies, J. I.; Bland, Stewart

doi:10.1364/josab.17.000919

Cited by 59 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Our phenomenological model is consistent with the experimental observations made in [15]. In particular, as the temperature of the SA is increased, the intracavity power required to switch from QS-ML to cw ML increases.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

“…From an analysis of the change in threshold power, it was deduced that the SA introduces and additional 2.4% of loss to the cavity. At present, it is not clear why this background loss is so high -comparison with similar devices having one or two InGaAs quantum wells [15] would suggest this loss should be considerably lower. We confirmed that this loss is not the sum of saturable and nonsaturable losses of the SA, but only the passive non-saturable loss by tuning the absorption spectrum sufficiently to short wavelengths such that the saturable component is minimal.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

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Optically-pumped saturable absorber for fast switching between continuous-wave and passively mode-locked regimes of a Nd:YVO_4 laser

Savitski¹,

Burns²,

Calvez³

2009

Opt. Express

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Abstract:We report on the fast (~50 s) remote-controlled switching between continuous-wave (cw), cw mode-locked (ML) and Q-switched ML modes of operation of a Nd:YVO 4 laser using an optically-pumped saturable absorber (SA). Pulses as short as 40 ps with an average output power of 0.5 W are obtained in cw ML regime. Burns, "Thermal management in vertical-external-cavity surface-emitting lasers: Finite-element analysis of a heatspreader approach," IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 41, 148-155 (2005). 15.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 89%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Optically-pumped saturable absorber for fast switching between continuous-wave and passively mode-locked regimes of a Nd:YVO_4 laser

Savitski¹,

Burns²,

Calvez³

2009

Opt. Express

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“…The total spectral width was 41 GHz, measured using a scanning Fabry-Pérot interferometer. Similar results with output powers of about 20 W, albeit with pulse durations above 20 ps, have been reported earlier and can be found in the literature [13,14].…”

Section: Sesam Mode Locked Picosecond Nd:yvo 4 Oscillatorssupporting

confidence: 91%

Ultrashort Pulse Lasers and Amplifiers Based on Nd:YVO4 and Yb:YAG Bulk Crystals

Kleinbauer¹,

Knappe²,

Wallenstein³

2004

Topics in Applied Physics

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Abstract. This Chapter focuses on the generation of ultrashort pulses and their amplification to high energies in Nd:YVO4 and Yb:YAG bulk crystals. Particularly with regard to applications such as high-precision micromachining, we briefly describe why these materials can be a promising alternative for current systems mostly based on Ti:sapphire, and how the actual setup of a laser would benefit from the possible simplifications. Following this, recent progress in the development of highpower diode-pumped picosecond Nd:YVO4 and femtosecond Yb:YAG oscillators is briefly outlined. Mode locking of the lasers presented here is achieved with either semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors (SESAMs) or by employing phase selfadjusted mode locking (PSM). The setup and the characterization of a Nd:YVO4 regenerative amplifier is subsequently explained in detail and experimental results are presented. The output of the amplifier is also frequency converted to the visible spectral range by second-harmonic generation (SHG) in LBO and to the UV by fourth-harmonic generation (FHG) in BBO. For higher average output powers in the IR and to demonstrate the potential of a further power scaling, an additional single-pass amplifier is applied to the system. The last few years have seen a rapid development in the field of high-power ultrashort lasers and amplifiers, both with regard to systems based on the bulk material, as well as advanced concepts such as fiber lasers and the thindisk scheme. Much progress has been made to achieve the output powers and the pulse energies needed for numerous high-precision applications, as outlined in a later part of the book. Particularly with regard to the simplicity of the laser systems and their suitability for applications in an industrial environment, promising results with systems based on bulk crystals have been obtained over the last couple of years, and this Chapter will give an overview on these recent developments.The vast majority of industrial lasers for micromachining today is still based on bulk laser materials, mostly Ti:sapphire, which has become the standard material for femtosecond pulse generation and amplification. For this reason, some general remarks on the properties of this laser material and its application for the generation and amplification of ultrashort laser pulses will be given here. Compared to other classical active materials supporting femtosecond pulse generation, such as laser dyes, Ti:sapphire exhibits far superior thermal and laser properties. It offers an upper-state lifetime of

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“…12. A Strain-balanced doublequantum-well InGaAs/GaAsP saturable Bragg reflector [7,16] was used as the passive mode-locking element. The gain medium was placed away from the end of the cavity to avoid effects associated with spatial hole burning [17].…”

Section: Extension Of Operational Parameter Space Of Passively Mode-lmentioning

confidence: 99%

Active and passive stabilization of solid state lasers

et al. 2004

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We present an overview of diode-pumped solid-state lasers with negative feedback stabilization. Active stabilization by means of direct modulation of cavity losses was utilized in several Nd-based quasi-continuous-wave lasers mode-locked by saturable Bragg reflectors (SBR). The stabilization acts to eliminate the relaxation-oscillation-driven spiking after laser oscillation turn-on. Stable continuous-wave modelocking was observed in as little as 10 µs after laser turned on where the leading spike was reduced or completely eliminated dependent on the gain material and the operating wavelength. Stabilization was also used to prevent Q-switching instabilities in a continuous-wave SBR-modelocked Nd:KGW laser resulting in an extended operational parameter range and pulse shortening by up to 35%. Stabilization of passively mode-locked lasers could alternatively be achieved using an intra-cavity element exhibiting nonlinear absorption, which was demonstrated using an Indium Phosphide plate. Pulse shortening by up to 30% was permitted as the modulation depth of the SBR could be increased whilst maintaining stable cw modelocking. Active stabilization was also employed for Tm-based lasers emitting in the 1.9 -2 µm wavelength region as these lasers suffer from inherent amplitude instability and sensitivity to cavity perturbation. Passive stabilization of a Tm:YAlO laser utilizing a germanium plate was also investigated.

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High-average-power (>20-W) Nd:YVO_4 lasers mode locked by strain-compensated saturable Bragg reflectors

Abstract: High-average-power (>20-W) Nd:YVO-4 lasers mode locked by strain-compensated saturable Bragg reflectors.

Cited by 59 publications

References 15 publications

Optically-pumped saturable absorber for fast switching between continuous-wave and passively mode-locked regimes of a Nd:YVO_4 laser

Optically-pumped saturable absorber for fast switching between continuous-wave and passively mode-locked regimes of a Nd:YVO_4 laser

Ultrashort Pulse Lasers and Amplifiers Based on Nd:YVO4 and Yb:YAG Bulk Crystals

Active and passive stabilization of solid state lasers

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