Spectroscopy and femtosecond laser performance of Yb3+ : YAlO3 crystal

We report what we believe to be the first demonstration of ew and passively mode-locked Yb3+:YAlO3 (Yb:YAP) laser operation under diode pumping. Spectroscopic properties of a 0.6 at.% Y3+-doped YAP single crystal were investigated. Output power up to 1.2 W with slope efficiency of 64.5% in the ew regime and 225 fs pulse duration with average power of 0.8 W from a mode-locked Yb:YAP laser were demonstrated. (C) 2008 Optical Society of America