Compact picosecond mode-locked and cavity-dumped Nd:YVO4 laser
Optics Express, Vol. 17, Issue 25, pp. 23098-23103 (2009)
http://dx.doi.org/10.1364/OE.17.023098
Acrobat PDF (296 KB)
Abstract
We report on a diode pumped, semiconductor saturable absorber mirror mode-locked picosecond Nd:YVO4 oscillator with cavity-dumping. In pure cw-mode-locking this laser produced up to 17W of average power at a pulse repetition rate of 9.7MHz, corresponding to a pulse energy of 1.7µJ. Using an electro-optic cavity dumper, we achieved average powers up to 7.8W at 500kHz and 10W at 1MHz dumping rate. With corresponding pulse energies of 15.6µJ and 10µJ respectively and pulsewidths around 10ps, this laser could become a compact source for materials processing applications, alternative to more complex schemes such as regenerative amplifiers or ultra-long resonator oscillators.
© 2009 OSA
1. Introduction
J. Limpert, N. Deguil-Robin, I. Manek-Hönninger, F. Salin, T. Schreiber, A. Liem, E. Röser, H. Zellmer, A. Tünnermann, A. Courjaud, C. Hönninger, and E. Mottay, “High-power picosecond fiber amplifier based on nonlinear spectral compression,” Opt. Lett. 30(7), 714–716 ( 2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
B. Luther-Davies, V. Z. Kolev, M. J. Lederer, N. R. Madsen, A. V. Rode, J. Giesekus, K.-M. Du, and M. Duering, “Table-top 50-W laser system for ultra-fast laser ablation,” Appl. Phys., A Mater. Sci. Process. 79(4-6), 1051–1055 ( 2004). [CrossRef]
C. Gerhard, F. Druon, P. Blandin, M. Hanna, F. Balembois, P. Georges, and F. Falcoz, “Efficient versatile-repetition-rate picosecond source for material processing applications,” Appl. Opt. 47(7), 967–974 ( 2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
V. Z. Kolev, M. J. Lederer, B. Luther-Davies, and A. V. Rode, “Passive mode locking of a Nd:YVO4 laser with an extra-long optical resonator,” Opt. Lett. 28(14), 1275–1277 ( 2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
T. Südmeyer, S. V. Marchese, C. R. Baer, S. Hashimoto, A. G. Engqvist, M. Golling, D. J. H. C. Maas, and U. Keller, Femtosecond Thin Disk Lasers with >10 μJ Pulse Energy,” in Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics/Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference and Photonic Applications Systems Technologies, 2008 Technical Digest (Optical Society of America, Washington, DC, 2008), CFP1.
D. A. Clubley, A. S. Bell, and G. Friel, “High average power Nd:YVO4 based pico-second regenerative amplifier,” Proc. SPIE 6871, 68711D ( 2008). [CrossRef]
A. Killi, J. Dörring, U. Morgner, M. J. Lederer, J. Frei, and D. Kopf, “High speed electro-optical cavity dumping of mode-locked laser oscillators,” Opt. Express 13(6), 1916–1922 ( 2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
G. Palmer, M. Emons, M. Siegel, A. Steinmann, M. Schultze, M. J. Lederer, and U. Morgner, “Passively mode-locked and cavity-dumped Yb:KY(WO(4))(2) oscillator with positive dispersion,” Opt. Express 15(24), 16017–16021 ( 2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
2. Nd:YVO4 laser head with two crystals, mode-locked operation
A.-L. Calendron, K. S. Wentsch, and M. J. Lederer, “High power cw and mode-locked oscillators based on Yb:KYW multi-crystal resonators,” Opt. Express 16(23), 18838–18843 ( 2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
A.-L. Calendron, K. S. Wentsch, and M. J. Lederer, “High power cw and mode-locked oscillators based on Yb:KYW multi-crystal resonators,” Opt. Express 16(23), 18838–18843 ( 2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
D. Herriott, H. Kogelnik, and R. Kompfner, “Off-Axis Paths in Spherical Mirror Interferometers,” Appl. Opt. 3(4), 523 ( 1964). [CrossRef]
F. X. Kärtner, L. R. Brovelli, D. Kopf, M. Kamp, I. Calasso, and U. Keller, “Control of solid state laser dynamics by semiconductor devices,” Opt. Eng. 34(7), 2024 ( 1995). [CrossRef]
H. A. Haus, “Theory of modelocking with a fast saturable absorber,” J. Appl. Phys. 46(7), 3049–3058 ( 1975). [CrossRef]
| ROC [%] | P [W] | τ [ps] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| measured | calculated | measured | calculated | ||
| 90 | 13 | 12.9 | 13 | 12.2 | |
| 85 | 15 | 15.4 | 19.5 | 17 | |
| 65 | 17 | 17.6 | 26 | 25 | |
3. Cavity-dumped operation
A. Killi, J. Dörring, U. Morgner, M. J. Lederer, J. Frei, and D. Kopf, “High speed electro-optical cavity dumping of mode-locked laser oscillators,” Opt. Express 13(6), 1916–1922 ( 2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
4. Conclusion
Acknowledgements
References and links
J. Limpert, N. Deguil-Robin, I. Manek-Hönninger, F. Salin, T. Schreiber, A. Liem, E. Röser, H. Zellmer, A. Tünnermann, A. Courjaud, C. Hönninger, and E. Mottay, “High-power picosecond fiber amplifier based on nonlinear spectral compression,” Opt. Lett. 30(7), 714–716 ( 2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
B. Luther-Davies, V. Z. Kolev, M. J. Lederer, N. R. Madsen, A. V. Rode, J. Giesekus, K.-M. Du, and M. Duering, “Table-top 50-W laser system for ultra-fast laser ablation,” Appl. Phys., A Mater. Sci. Process. 79(4-6), 1051–1055 ( 2004). [CrossRef] | |
L. McDonagh, R. Wallenstein, and A. Nebel, “111 W, 110 MHz repetition-rate, passively mode-locked TEM00Nd:YVO4 master oscillator power amplifier pumped at 888 nm,” Opt. Lett. 32(10), 1259–1261 ( 2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
C. Gerhard, F. Druon, P. Blandin, M. Hanna, F. Balembois, P. Georges, and F. Falcoz, “Efficient versatile-repetition-rate picosecond source for material processing applications,” Appl. Opt. 47(7), 967–974 ( 2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
V. Z. Kolev, M. J. Lederer, B. Luther-Davies, and A. V. Rode, “Passive mode locking of a Nd:YVO4 laser with an extra-long optical resonator,” Opt. Lett. 28(14), 1275–1277 ( 2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
D. N. Papadopoulos, S. Forget, M. Delaigue, F. Druon, F. Balembois, and P. Georges, “Passively mode-locked diode-pumped Nd:YVO4 oscillator operating at an ultralow repetition rate,” Opt. Lett. 28(19), 1838–1840 ( 2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
J. Neuhaus, D. Bauer, J. Kleinbauer, A. Killi, S. Weiler, D. Sutter, and T. Dekorsy, “Pulse Energies Exceeding 20 µJ Directly from a Subpicosecond Yb:YAG Oscillator by Use of Active Angular Multiplexing,” in Advanced Solid-State Photonics (ASSP) 2009 paper: MC1. | |
T. Südmeyer, S. V. Marchese, C. R. Baer, S. Hashimoto, A. G. Engqvist, M. Golling, D. J. H. C. Maas, and U. Keller, Femtosecond Thin Disk Lasers with >10 μJ Pulse Energy,” in Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics/Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference and Photonic Applications Systems Technologies, 2008 Technical Digest (Optical Society of America, Washington, DC, 2008), CFP1. | |
F. Dausinger, et al ., Femtosecond Technology for Technical and Medical Applications, (Springer, 2004), pp. 17–33. | |
D. A. Clubley, A. S. Bell, and G. Friel, “High average power Nd:YVO4 based pico-second regenerative amplifier,” Proc. SPIE 6871, 68711D ( 2008). [CrossRef] | |
A. Killi, J. Dörring, U. Morgner, M. J. Lederer, J. Frei, and D. Kopf, “High speed electro-optical cavity dumping of mode-locked laser oscillators,” Opt. Express 13(6), 1916–1922 ( 2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
G. Palmer, M. Emons, M. Siegel, A. Steinmann, M. Schultze, M. J. Lederer, and U. Morgner, “Passively mode-locked and cavity-dumped Yb:KY(WO(4))(2) oscillator with positive dispersion,” Opt. Express 15(24), 16017–16021 ( 2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
A.-L. Calendron, K. S. Wentsch, and M. J. Lederer, “High power cw and mode-locked oscillators based on Yb:KYW multi-crystal resonators,” Opt. Express 16(23), 18838–18843 ( 2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed] | |
W. Köchner, Solid-State Laser Engineering (Springer, 2006), pp. 69–73. | |
D. Herriott, H. Kogelnik, and R. Kompfner, “Off-Axis Paths in Spherical Mirror Interferometers,” Appl. Opt. 3(4), 523 ( 1964). [CrossRef] | |
F. X. Kärtner, L. R. Brovelli, D. Kopf, M. Kamp, I. Calasso, and U. Keller, “Control of solid state laser dynamics by semiconductor devices,” Opt. Eng. 34(7), 2024 ( 1995). [CrossRef] | |
H. A. Haus, “Theory of modelocking with a fast saturable absorber,” J. Appl. Phys. 46(7), 3049–3058 ( 1975). [CrossRef] |
OCIS Codes
(140.3480) Lasers and laser optics : Lasers, diode-pumped
(140.3580) Lasers and laser optics : Lasers, solid-state
(140.4050) Lasers and laser optics : Mode-locked lasers
(320.7090) Ultrafast optics : Ultrafast lasers
ToC Category:
Lasers and Laser Optics
History
Original Manuscript: October 2, 2009
Revised Manuscript: November 27, 2009
Manuscript Accepted: November 27, 2009
Published: December 2, 2009
Citation
U. Wegner, J. Meier, and M. J. Lederer, "Compact picosecond mode-locked and cavity-dumped Nd:YVO4 laser," Opt. Express 17, 23098-23103 (2009)
http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/abstract.cfm?URI=oe-17-25-23098
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References
- J. Limpert, N. Deguil-Robin, I. Manek-Hönninger, F. Salin, T. Schreiber, A. Liem, E. Röser, H. Zellmer, A. Tünnermann, A. Courjaud, C. Hönninger, and E. Mottay, “High-power picosecond fiber amplifier based on nonlinear spectral compression,” Opt. Lett. 30(7), 714–716 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- B. Luther-Davies, V. Z. Kolev, M. J. Lederer, N. R. Madsen, A. V. Rode, J. Giesekus, K.-M. Du, and M. Duering, “Table-top 50-W laser system for ultra-fast laser ablation,” Appl. Phys., A Mater. Sci. Process. 79(4-6), 1051–1055 (2004). [CrossRef]
- L. McDonagh, R. Wallenstein, and A. Nebel, “111 W, 110 MHz repetition-rate, passively mode-locked TEM00Nd:YVO4 master oscillator power amplifier pumped at 888 nm,” Opt. Lett. 32(10), 1259–1261 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- C. Gerhard, F. Druon, P. Blandin, M. Hanna, F. Balembois, P. Georges, and F. Falcoz, “Efficient versatile-repetition-rate picosecond source for material processing applications,” Appl. Opt. 47(7), 967–974 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- V. Z. Kolev, M. J. Lederer, B. Luther-Davies, and A. V. Rode, “Passive mode locking of a Nd:YVO4 laser with an extra-long optical resonator,” Opt. Lett. 28(14), 1275–1277 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- D. N. Papadopoulos, S. Forget, M. Delaigue, F. Druon, F. Balembois, and P. Georges, “Passively mode-locked diode-pumped Nd:YVO4 oscillator operating at an ultralow repetition rate,” Opt. Lett. 28(19), 1838–1840 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- J. Neuhaus, D. Bauer, J. Kleinbauer, A. Killi, S. Weiler, D. Sutter, and T. Dekorsy, “Pulse Energies Exceeding 20 µJ Directly from a Subpicosecond Yb:YAG Oscillator by Use of Active Angular Multiplexing,” in Advanced Solid-State Photonics (ASSP) 2009 paper: MC1.
- T. Südmeyer, S. V. Marchese, C. R. Baer, S. Hashimoto, A. G. Engqvist, M. Golling, D. J. H. C. Maas, and U. Keller, Femtosecond Thin Disk Lasers with >10 μJ Pulse Energy,” in Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics/Quantum Electronics and Laser Science Conference and Photonic Applications Systems Technologies, 2008 Technical Digest (Optical Society of America, Washington, DC, 2008), CFP1.
- F. Dausinger, et al., Femtosecond Technology for Technical and Medical Applications, (Springer, 2004), pp. 17–33.
- D. A. Clubley, A. S. Bell, and G. Friel, “High average power Nd:YVO4 based pico-second regenerative amplifier,” Proc. SPIE 6871, 68711D (2008). [CrossRef]
- A. Killi, J. Dörring, U. Morgner, M. J. Lederer, J. Frei, and D. Kopf, “High speed electro-optical cavity dumping of mode-locked laser oscillators,” Opt. Express 13(6), 1916–1922 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- G. Palmer, M. Emons, M. Siegel, A. Steinmann, M. Schultze, M. J. Lederer, and U. Morgner, “Passively mode-locked and cavity-dumped Yb:KY(WO(4))(2) oscillator with positive dispersion,” Opt. Express 15(24), 16017–16021 (2007). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- A.-L. Calendron, K. S. Wentsch, and M. J. Lederer, “High power cw and mode-locked oscillators based on Yb:KYW multi-crystal resonators,” Opt. Express 16(23), 18838–18843 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- W. Köchner, Solid-State Laser Engineering (Springer, 2006), pp. 69–73.
- D. Herriott, H. Kogelnik, and R. Kompfner, “Off-Axis Paths in Spherical Mirror Interferometers,” Appl. Opt. 3(4), 523 (1964). [CrossRef]
- F. X. Kärtner, L. R. Brovelli, D. Kopf, M. Kamp, I. Calasso, and U. Keller, “Control of solid state laser dynamics by semiconductor devices,” Opt. Eng. 34(7), 2024 (1995). [CrossRef]
- H. A. Haus, “Theory of modelocking with a fast saturable absorber,” J. Appl. Phys. 46(7), 3049–3058 (1975). [CrossRef]
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