Stimulated Raman scattering of ruby lasar radiation and mode locking i
n SFG and hydrogen were used to generate pulses or 0.5 ps duration and
of 0.1 mJ energy at the wavelength of 1.056 mu m. Amplification of th
e pulses in a single-pass (12 cm long) neodymium phosphate glass ampli
fier increased the energy to 0.5 mJ and the measured contrast of the p
ulses exceeded 10(12).