LD Side-Pumped Passive Mode-Locked TEM_00 Nd:YAG Laser Based on SESAM

We report an LD side-pumped continuous-wave passive mode-locked Nd:YAG laser with a Z-type folded cavity based on a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM). The average output power 2.95 W of mode-locked laser with electro-optical conversion efficiency of 1.3% and high beam quality (M_x²=1.25 and M_y²=1.22) is achieved. The repetition rate of mode-locked pulse of 88 MHz with pulse energy of 34 nJ is obtained.