54 ps Q-switched microchip laser with a high modulation depth SESAM

We present a passively Q-switched diode-pumped Nd:YVO4 microchip laser based on a Semiconductor Saturable Absorber Mirror (SESAM) with a high modulation depth of 40%. We obtained 54 ps pulses with 2.9 mW average power at a repetition rate of 550 kHz.