Abstract

The erbium-doped active media allow to generate laser radiation in spectral range 2.7 - 2.94 μm if the laser transition ⁴I_11/2→ ⁴I_13/2 is used [1]. Since the laser radiation in this spectral range is strongly absorbed in the water these lasers can be used in medicine (surgery, ophthalmology, urology) [1]. Nowadays, there are many papers deal with erbium-doped bulk active media operating in free-running or Q-switched regime, nevertheless, the passively mode-locked lasers are mainly built with Er-doped fibres. However, the compact passively mode-locked erbium-doped bulk lasers could offer a higher repetition rate and smaller dimensions. To date, the shortest laser pulses (1.78 ns) generated with erbium bulk laser (Er:CaF₂-SrF₂) was obtained in Q-switched mode-locked regime [2].In this paper, the SESAM mode-locked compact Er:YLF laser with the picosecond pulses and GHz repetition rate for the first time, according to the author’s knowledge, is presented.

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