Abstract

We have recently demonstrated that a saturable Bragg reflector (SBR) structure can modelock a diode-pumped Cr:LiSAF (Fig. 1a) laser with very low loss and produce 100 fs pulses with average power of 42 mW using a single 0.5 W broad area 670 nm pump diode [1]. In the present paper, we discuss results obtained with a 0.5 W diffraction-limited pump diode, and scaling of SBR structures to other wavelengths. Further, we discuss the modelocking processes in such passively modelocked lasers.

© 1996 Optical Society of America