Mode-Locked Composite YAG/Yb:YAG Ceramic Laser and High-Power Amplification

Abstract

We demonstrated a diode-pumped-passively mode-locked laser based on a specially designed composite YAG/Yb:YAG ceramic. Theoretical studies reveal that this composite medium was beneficial for reducing the thermal effect. We obtained 1.35-ps pulses with a maximum output power of 475 mW based on an semiconductor saturable absorber mirror mode-locked laser at the room temperature of 22 °C. A maximum laser output power of 240 W was further generated using a master oscillator power amplifier system with the mode-locked YAG/Yb:YAG ceramic laser as the seeding oscillator.