Diode-pumped Kerr-lens mode-locked Yb:KY(WO4)2 laser

A self-starting Kerr-lens mode-locked Yb:KY(WO4)(2) laser directly end pumped by two 1.6-W diodes is demonstrated for what is to our knowledge the first time. Pulses as short as 71 fs with 120-mW average output power, at a center wavelength of 1057 nm, were obtained at a repetition rate of 110 MHz. A 10-nm tuning range was achieved with longer pulses and higher average output power. (C) 2001 Optical Society of America.