title: 420-MHz Cr:forsterite femtosecond ring laser and continuum generation in the 1-2-micrometre range.
abstract: We demonstrate a chromium-doped forsterite femtosecond ring laser that generates 30-fs pulses at a 420-MHz repetition rate with nearly 500 mW of average power. The compact solid-state design and broad spectral output make this laser attractive for telecommunications applications in the 1.3-1.5-micrometre region. Additional spectral broadening of the laser output in highly nonlinear optical fiber leads to octave-spanning spectra ranging from 1.06 to 2.17 micrometre. The octave is reached at a level of 18 dB below the peak. The underlying optical frequency comb can be linked to existing optical frequency standards.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Standards and Technology, 325 Broadway, Boulder, Colorado 80305, USA. isabell.thomann@colorado.edu
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Thomann
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bartels
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Corwin
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Newbury
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hollberg
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Diddams
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Nicholson
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Yan