High speed electro-optical cavity dumping of mode-locked laser oscillators

High speed electro-optical cavity dumping is demonstrated with diode-pumped mode-locked laser oscillators, namely a femtosecond Yb:glass and a picosecond Nd:YVO4 oscillator. Repetition frequencies exceeding 1 MHz are obtained with pulse energies of more than 300 nJ / 1 mu J. Being compact and easy to operate light sources, these laser systems open up various scientific and industrial applications. (C) 2005 Optical Society of America.