Passively mode-locked Yb:CaF2 thin-disk laser.

We report on the first demonstration of a passively (SESAM) mode-locked Yb:CaF(2) thin-disk laser operating at a repetition rate of 35 MHz with close to diffraction-limited beam quality (M(2) ≈ 1.1) at an average output power of up to 6.6 W.

Yb:CaF2 thin-disk laser.

We present Ytterbium-doped CaF2 as a laser active material with good prospects for high-power operation in thin-disk laser configuration owing to its favorable thermal properties. Thanks to its broad emission bandwidth the material is also suitable for the generation of ultra-short pulses. The properties of the crystal as well as the challenges related to the coating, polishing, mounting and handling processes which are essential to achieve high power laser oscillation in thin-disk configuration are discussed.

Passively mode-locked Yb3+:Sc2SiO5 thin-disk laser.

Experimental investigations on a passively mode-locked Yb(3+):Sc(2)SiO(5) (Yb:SSO) thin-disk laser are presented. The mode-locking was performed with a commercially available semiconductor saturable absorber mirror. The laser was operated at a repetition rate of 27 MHz and generated a maximum average output power of 27.

Continuous-wave Yb-doped Sc2SiO5 thin-disk laser.

We present in this Letter experimental results of a Yb:Sc(2)SiO(5) (Yb:SSO) thin-disk laser. To our knowledge, this is the first lasing demonstration of this crystal in thin-disk configuration reported on to date. Preliminary tests regarding the characterization and the laser operation are presented.