SELF-STARTING MODE-LOCKED CR-FORSTERITE LASER WITH SEMICONDUCTOR SATURABLE BRAGG REFLECTOR

We report the self-starting passively mode-locked operation of a chrom ium-doped forsterite laser using a semiconductor saturable Bragg refle ctor, Self-starting mode-locking was the only operational mode of the laser and could be achieved with and without intracavity dispersion co mpensation. We obtained 110 fs transformed limited pulses using a pris m pair for dispersion compensation, 4 ps pulses without prisms, and pu lse energies of up to 2.3 nJ at 90 MHz repetition rate.