64-fs ultrashort pulse generation from a Kerr-lens mode-locked (Yb 0.058 Sc 0.508 Y 0.434 ) 2 O 3 ceramic laser

We have successfully used a mixed sesquioxide ceramic (Yb 0.058 Sc 0.508 Y 0.434 ) 2 O 3 (Yb:YScO 3 ) as a gain medium for femtosecond laser generation via Kerr-lens mode-locked laser technology. A high-brightness diode laser has been used for pumping the ceramic sample, and a stable pulsed laser with a time duration of 64 fs and an average output power exceeding 100 mW at a peak wavelength of 1046 nm has been achieved. This is the first, to the best of our knowledge, report of femtosecond laser operation using mixed sesquioxide ceramic as a gain medium, and the time-domain width of the obtained pulsed laser is also one of the shortest in Yb-doped ceramic material mode-locked lasers.