10-W-scale Kerr-lens mode-locked Yb:CALYO laser with sub-100-fs pulses

Abstract

We reported a high-power pure Kerr-lens mode-locked Yb:CALYO laser based on the dual-confocal cavity delivering sub-100-fs pulses. The output pulses at 81 MHz have an average power of 10.4 W and the pulse duration of 98 fs, corresponding to the peak power of 1.14 MW. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the highest average power ever reported for a Kerr-lens mode-locked Yb-bulk oscillator. Analysis of the dual-confocal cavity was also conducted, which indicates a way to achieve higher average power. We believe the result described in this Letter may pave a way to develop Kerr-lens mode-locked bulk lasers with much higher average power.