Low-loss quantum-dot-based saturable absorber for efficient femtosecond pulse generation Available to Purchase

We report the efficient generation of femtosecond pulses from a diode-pumped solid-state laser that has been passively mode locked using a quantum-dot-based saturable absorber. Average output powers up to $1.15W$ and transform-limited pulses as short as $114fs$ were obtained around $1040nm$ with a pulse repetition frequency of $107MHz$ from a diode-pumped $Yb3+:KY(WO4)2$ laser. The InGaAs quantum-dot saturable absorber was characterized to have a saturation fluence of $25μJ∕cm2$ and nonsaturable losses of less than 0.2% with an initial low-signal absorption of 2.5% at $1040nm$⁠.