Ultra-low-noise monolithic mode-locked solid-state laser

Low-noise, high-repetition-rate mode-locked solid-state lasers are attractive for precision measurement and microwave generation, but the best lasers in terms of noise performance still consist of complex, bulky optical setups, which limits their range of applications. In this Letter, we present an approach for producing highly stable pulse trains with a record-low residual integrated offset frequency phase noise of 14 mrad at 1 GHz fundamental repetition rate using a monolithic mode-locked solid-state laser. The compact monolithic design simplifies implementation of the laser by fixing the cavity parameters and operates using just 265 mW of 980 nm pump light. (C) 2016 Optical Society of America