Passive mode locking of a Cr 4+:YAG laser by PbS quantum-dot-doped glass saturable absorber

The use of PbS quantum-dot-doped glass as an intracavity saturable absorber for passive mode locking of a Cr4+:YAG laser was investigated. We obtained 10 ps pulses at a repetition rate of 235 MHz with an average output power of 35 mW. This mode-locked laser was tunable from 1460 to 1550 nm. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.