Femtosecond Yb:KGd(WO₄)₂laser with > 100 nJ of pulse energy

Abstract

We report on the development of a high pulse energy femtosecond Yb:KGd(WO4)2 laser pumped by a fiber-coupled diode module. Passive mode locking was initiated using a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror. The laser produced 420 fs pulses with up to 145 nJ of energy at a repetition rate of 14.5 MHz. The output spectrum was centered at 1030 nm. At the lower pulse energy of 100 nJ the laser produced 300 fs long pulses.