Efficient OPSL-pumped mode-locked Yb: Lu2O3 laser with 67% optical-to-optical efficiency

We present a mode-locked Yb: Lu2O3 laser with up to 67% of optical-to-optical efficiency. By utilizing a high brightness optically pumped semiconductor laser (OPSL) as a pump source and using a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM) we obtained self-starting mode locking. A pulse duration of 571 fs at 4.73 W of average output power with an optical-to-optical efficiency of 67% was achieved. In a slightly different cavity configuration the pulse duration was reduced to 313 fs at 2.16 W of average output power. In both cases the pulse duration was longer than the Fourier limit and the spectrum supports significantly shorter pulse durations. The laser wavelength is centered at 1034 nm and the repetition rate is 100.76 MHz in both cases. In continuous wave fundamental mode operation the optical-to-optical efficiency was as high as 78% with output powers exceeding 5 W.