PULSED DIODE-PUMPED ADDITIVE-PULSE MODE-LOCKED HIGH-PEAK-POWER ND-YLFLASER

Intense ultrashort pulses are generated in an additive-pulse mode-lock ed, amplitude-feedback-controlled Nd:YLF laser pumped by quasi-cw lase r diodes with a 30-Hz repetition rate. Pulse trains are produced that consist of approximately 600 single pulses of 2.1-ps duration and less than or equal to 1-mu J energy. The peak intensity is 0.5 MW, and a s tability corresponding to a standard deviation of similar to 1.3% is m easured. The optical efficiency of this all-solid-state mode-locked la ser is determined to be similar to 1%. (C) 1996 Optical Society of Ame rica