320 fs pulse generation from an ultrafast laser inscribed waveguide laser mode-locked by a nanotube saturable absorber

Ultrafast laser inscription is used to fabricate the gain element for a mode-locked Er-doped bismuthate glass waveguide laser. Mode-locking is initiated and stabilized by the use of a single wall carbon nanotube saturable absorber. The waveguide laser produces 320 fs pulses at 1.56 mu m with a pulse repetition rate of 40 MHz and average output power of 1.25 mW. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3486177]