Open AccessSub-100-fs Kerr lens mode-locked Yb:Lu2O3 thin-disk laser oscillator operating at 21 W average power
Author(s) -
Norbert Modsching,
Jakub Drs,
Julian Fischer,
Clément Paradis,
François Labaye,
Maxim Gaponenko,
Christian Kränkel,
Valentin J. Wittwer,
Thomas Südmeyer
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
optics express
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.394
H-Index - 271
ISSN - 1094-4087
DOI - 10.1364/oe.27.016111
Subject(s) - optics , laser , thin disk , lens (geology) , mode locking , physics , pulse duration , power (physics) , focal length , laser power scaling , materials science , stars , quantum mechanics , astronomy
We investigate power-scaling of a Kerr lens mode-locked (KLM) Yb:Lu 2 O 3 thin-disk laser (TDL) oscillator operating in the sub-100-fs pulse duration regime. Employing a scheme with higher round-trip gain by increasing the number of passes through the thin-disk gain element, we increase the average power by a factor of two and the optical-to-optical efficiency by a factor of almost three compared to our previous sub-100-fs mode-locking results. The oscillator generates pulses with a duration of 95 fs at 21.1 W average power and 47.9 MHz repetition rate. We discuss the cavity design for continuous-wave and mode-locked operation and the estimation of the focal length of the Kerr lens. Unlike to usual KLM TDL oscillators, an operation at the edge of the stability zone in continuous-wave operation is not required. This work shows that KLM TDL oscillators based on the gain material Yb:Lu 2 O 3 are an excellent choice for power-scaling of laser oscillators in the sub-100-fs regime, and we expect that such lasers will soon operate at power levels in excess of hundred watts.