Abstract

Current advances in quantum-dot semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (QD-SESAM) design have enabled robust ultrashort pulse passive mode locking of solid-state and fibre lasers [1,2]. On the other hand, recent work based on the dual action of Kerr lens and quantum-well saturable absorber mode locking (KLAS) demonstrated generation of ultrashort pulses with high average and peak powers [3,4]. Therefore, QD-SESAMs owing to the faster recovery times when compared to their quantum-well counterparts, present an attractive alternative for KLAS mode locking. In this work we explored this possibility and demonstrated generation of 105 fs pulses with 2.5 W of average power (>300 kW of peak power) from a diode-pumped Yb:KGW laser. To the best of our knowledge, this is the most powerful femtosecond laser based on the QD-SESAMs to date.

© 2015 IEEE