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Gigahertz repetition rate mode-locked Yb:KYW laser using self-assembled quantum dot saturable absorber

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Abstract

Fundamental mode-locking is achieved in a 1.036 GHz cavity using a semiconductor quantum dot saturable absorber mirror with a fast relaxation time component of down to 550 fs. The dispersive cavity delivers 1.7 ps wide pulses with spectra supporting sub-picosecond pulse durations and an M² of 1.3. An average output power of up to 339 mW at wavelengths around 1,032 nm is achieved and the saturable absorber’s damage threshold is identified as a limitation for further power scaling.

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Acknowledgments

This work was in part funded by the European Community FP7 FAST-DOT project under Grant Agreement 224668, and by the Swedish Research Council (VR).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laser Physics, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, AlbaNova Universitetscentrum, Roslagstullsbacken 21, SE 10691, Stockholm, Sweden

    Niels Meiser, Kai Seger, Valdas Pasiskevicius & Hoon Jang

  2. School of Engineering, Physics and Mathematics, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 4HN, UK

    Edik Rafailov

  3. Innolume GmbH, Konrad-Adenauer-Allee 1, 44263, Dortmund, Germany

    Igor Krestnikov

Authors
  1. Niels Meiser
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  2. Kai Seger
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  3. Valdas Pasiskevicius
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  4. Hoon Jang
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  5. Edik Rafailov
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  6. Igor Krestnikov
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Correspondence to Niels Meiser.

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Meiser, N., Seger, K., Pasiskevicius, V. et al. Gigahertz repetition rate mode-locked Yb:KYW laser using self-assembled quantum dot saturable absorber. Appl. Phys. B 110, 327–333 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-013-5375-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00340-013-5375-8

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