An in-band diode-end-pumped high-power and high-efficiency ultrashort pulse Nd:YVO4 bulk laser mode-locked by a frequency doubling LBO crystal

Nonlinear mirror (NLM) mode locking has also been verified to be an efficient technology for high-power ultrashort pulse laser generation. In this paper, we report on high-power and high-efficiency NLM mode-locked Nd:YVO4 laser with a 880-nm diode laser for in-band pumping, which has very rarely been investigated in the past. The achieved maximum average output power reached 6.76 W at an absorbed power of 13.82 W corresponding to a slope efficiency of 54.5%. Thanks to the used type I LBO crystal with small group velocity mismatch, the achieved pulse duration was as short as 6.5 ps. The results represent one of the best performances that ever achieved for NLM mode-locked Nd:YVO4 laser. NLM mode locking could be very promising for high-power ultrashort pulse generation in visible and middle infrared wavelengths, at which SESAMs are still not mature and the average output powers of ultrafast laser oscillators are also still limited to great extent.

Automated summary

The paper reports on a high-power and high-efficiency NLM mode-locked Nd:YVO4 laser with in-band pumping using an 880-nm diode laser, achieving a maximum average output power of 6.76 W and a slope efficiency of 54.5%. The use of a type I LBO crystal with small group velocity mismatch enabled the generation of pulses as short as 6.5 ps, representing one of the best performances for NLM mode-locked Nd:YVO4 lasers. NLM mode locking shows promise for high-power ultrashort pulse generation in visible and middle infrared wavelengths where existing technologies have limitations.