Source: https://www.osapublishing.org/oe/abstract.cfm?uri=oe-14-2-686
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 16:22:36+00:00

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We report on both continuous-wave and passively mode-locked laser actions of a new ytterbium-doped laser crystal Yb:Gd2SiO5 (Yb:GSO) under high-power diode-end-pumping. Due to the anisotropic and compact crystal structure, Yb:GSO exhibits a large manifold splitting of Yb3+ ions, and a Yb:GSO laser can be operated efficiently with negligible reabsorption losses at emission wavelengths. In the continuous-wave operation, a Yb:GSO laser was operated with a slope efficiency of 49% near 1094 nm— the longest laser wavelength achieved for Yb3+ lasers. Passive mode locking was obtained with a semiconductor saturable-absorber mirror. At a pump power of 6.23 W, a maximum average output power of 638 mW was obtained with the repetition rate of 145.5 MHz.
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Fig. 1. Room-temperature absorption and emission spectra of the Yb:GSO laser crystal.
Fig. 2. Schematic of Yb:GSO cw laser cavity.
Fig. 3. Schematic of a Yb:GSO laser passively mode locked with a SESAM. M1, cavity mirror; M2, M3, folding mirrors; OC, output coupler.
Fig. 4. Yb:GSO cw laser output power as a function of incident pump power.
Fig. 5. CML Yb:GSO laser output power versus absorbed pump power and the corresponding laser spectrum (inset).
Fig. 6. (a) Pulse trains of the CML Yb:GSO laser. (b) The 145.5MHz repetition rate of the CML pulses.
Fig. 7. Power spectrum of a CML Yb:GSO laser.
Fig. 8. Autocorrelation trace of the Yb:GSO CML laser.

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