Diode-pumped self-starting Kerr-lens mode locking Nd : YAG laser

Self-starting Kerr-lens mode locking of a longitudinally, diode pumped Nd:Y AG laser is obtained using a piece of glass as the only additional intracav ity element. To our knowledge, this is the first Nd:YAG laser operating in these conditions. It is obtained following a design procedure that minimize s the sensitivity on the values of the either fluctuating or poorly known p arameters of thermal origin in the laser rod. This procedure is of general interest for KLM lasers. The prototype produces transform-limited pulses of 4.5 ps at a 101.5 MHz repetition rate, with an average output power of 800 mW (at 1064 nm) for a pump power of 3 W (at 808 nm). (C) 2000 Elsevier Sci ence B.V. All rights reserved.