193 fs from an Yb:YAG oscillator mode-locked using nonlinear polarization rotation via Type I SHG with intrinsic dispersion compensation.

The mode-locking technique using nonlinear polarization rotation via Type I second-harmonic generation (SHG) is demonstrated on the femtosecond timescale. The narrow spectral bandwidth of the loss modulation was broadened via a double crystal approach, which allows for mode-locking broadband gain media. We prove the predicted advantages of the technique to be correct utilizing intrinsic dispersion compensation and group-velocity mismatch management to produce 193 fs pulses.

Cavity-dumped Yb:YAG ceramic in the 20 W, 12 mJ range at 6.7 ns operating from 20 Hz to 5 kHz with fluorescence feedback control.

Increasing data acquisition rates in metrology applications based on optical parametric oscillators (OPOs) can accelerate measurement processes. To achieve this, flash-lamp systems with low pulse repetition frequencies of 10-100 Hz used as a pump source for the OPOs could be replaced by diode-pumped solid-state lasers in the kHz range. We demonstrate a 969 nm pumped Yb:YAG ceramic laser yielding 21.

Mode-locking of a high power, 888 nm pumped Nd:YVO4 laser using nonlinear polarization rotation via Type I second harmonic generation.

Continuous-wave mode-locking of a laser exploiting the nonlinear polarization rotation (NPR) technique via Type I second harmonic generation is demonstrated for the first time. The NPR is generated by a lithium triborate crystal and transformed into nonlinear cavity losses of a 888 nm pumped Nd:YVO4 laser. Self-starting, reliable mode-locking has been achieved at a high average output power of 20.

Parametric Kerr lens mode-locked, 888 nm pumped Nd:YVO4 laser.

Self-starting cw mode locking of a 888 nm pumped high-power Nd:YVO(4) laser using the χ(2):χ(2) cascaded Kerr lens in lithium triborate without exploiting the "nonlinear mirror" technique is presented. The nonlinear loss modulations are mainly provided by a soft aperture mechanism in the gain medium. A high average output power up to 15.