Sub-50 fs pulse generation from a SESAM mode-locked Tm,Ho-codoped calcium aluminate laser

Identifier:  imarina:9216905

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/imarina9216905

Authors:  Wang, Li; Chen, Weidong; Zhao, Yongguang; Loiko, Pavel; Mateos, Xavier; Guina, Mircea; Pan, Zhongben; Mero, Mark; Griebner, Uwe; Petrov, Valentin

Abstract:
We report on sub-50 fs pulse generation from a passively mode-locked (ML) Tm,Ho-codoped crystalline laser operating in a 2 µm spectral region. A Tm, Ho:Ca(Gd, Lu)AlO laser delivers pulses as short as 46 fs at 2033 nm with an average power of 121 mW at a pulse repetition rate of ∼78 MHz employing a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror as a saturable absorber. To the best of our knowledge, this result represents the shortest pulses ever generated from a Tm- and/or Ho-based solid-state laser. Polarization switching in the anisotropic gain material is observed in the ML regime without any polarization selection elements which is essential for the shortest pulses. 4