Diode-pumped passively mode-locked Nd:CTGS laser

Abstract A diode-pumped, passively continuous-wave mode-locked laser at 1062.3 nm based on an ordered Nd:CTGS crystal has been experimentally investigated, to our knowledge, for the first time. Stable mode-locked pulses with a duration of 2.8 ps were produced at a repetition rate of 42 MHz. A maximum average mode-locked output power of 0.27 W was obtained at the absorbed pump power of 5.88 W, with a slope efficiency of 12%, (relative to the absorbed pump power). The corresponding single-pulse energy and peak power were determined to be 6.4 nJ and 2.3 kW, respectively. These results indicate that Nd:CTGS is an excellent laser gain medium for mode-locking operation.