Abstract

Nearly all modelocked Ti:Al₂O₃ lasers to date have been cw modelocked systems with relatively low pulse energies. Short pulse energies in the range of microjoules to millijoules can be generated using regenerative and multipass amplifier systems^[1]. While these techniques achieve excellent performance, they are relatively costly and complex. In this paper we demonstrate a high performance, all solid-state, modelocked flashlamp pumped Ti:Al₂O₃ laser. The flashlamp pumped Ti:Al₂O₃ laser is a simple, economical, high peak power laser source which can be an attractive alternative technology to conventional oscillator-amplifier approaches. In addition, the development of new techniques for modelocking flashlamp pumped lasers can be generalized to a broad class of new solid state laser materials currently being developed.

© 1994 Optical Society of America