DIODE-PUMPED CR-FORSTERITE LASER MODE-LOCKED BY A SEMICONDUCTOR SATURABLE ABSORBER

We report the passive mode locking of a diode-pumped Cr:forsterite las er using a semiconductor saturable absorber. The laser generates 10-pJ pulses as short as 1.5 ps in duration with similar to 650 mW of absor bed pump power. We measured the transient reflectance of the saturable absorber mirror under different incident energy fluences by using a s tandard pump-probe method. The performance of this laser is also compa red with a high-power fiber-laser-pumped femtosecond forsterite laser mode locked with the same absorber. (C) 1998 Optical Society of Americ a.