title: High-power self-mode-locked Yb:Y(2)O(3) ceramic laser.
abstract: We have experimentally demonstrated a high-power self-mode-locked Yb:Y(2)O(3) ceramic laser. Without any additional active or passive element in the cavity, self-started cw mode-locking was achieved. The maximum output power was as high as 2.7 W with a pulse duration of 1.1 ps. Numerical studies show that the diffraction loss induced by thermal lens aberration, in combination with the Kerr self-focusing effect in the gain medium, results in the mode locking of the laser. To our knowledge, this is the first self-mode-locked ceramic laser.
authors.affiliation: School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. gqxie@ntu.edu.sg
authors.forename: G Q
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: D Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ueda