Efficient Laser-Diode End-Pumped Passively Q-Switched Mode-Locked Yb:LYSO Laser Based on SESAM

We report an efficient Q-switched laser action based on a semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors (SESAMs) as passively Q-switched laser starter and a Yb:LYSO alloyed crystal as gain material pumped directly by 974nm InGaAs laser diodes. The output pulse duration is measured to be about 7μs, while the average power and the repetition rate of the pulse chain are about 0.92W and 6.2kHz, respectively, under 12.5W absorbed pumping power. The Q-switched mode-locked pulse train is also observed in this setup. The laser performance shows that Yb:LYSO is a promising laser gain medium for laser-diode pumped compact solid-state lasers.