All-solid-state actively mode-locked Cr:LiSAF laser

We have demonstrated an actively mode-locked Cr:LiSAF laser pumped by 659-nm radiation from an intracavity frequency-doubled diode-pumped Nd:YLF laser. The laser was tunable from 815 to 915 nm, and pulses of 30-ps duration at an average power of 3.5 mW were generated. With further development this all-solid-state system will be particularly suitable for the production of femtosecond pulses, by the technique of Kerr-lens mode locking.