Compact diode-pumped all-solid-state femtosecond Cr^4+:YAG laser

We have developed a compact, all-solid-state self-mode-locked Cr(4+):YAG laser. The laser is pumped by a cw laser-diode-pumped Nd:YVO(4) laser and produces highly stable femtosecond pulses near 1.50 microm. Measurements of noise power spectra for frequencies below 10 kHz show that the diode-pumped laser system greatly improves the output energy fluctuation and pulse timing jitter compared with a laser system that uses a conventional arc-lamp-pumped cw Nd:YAG laser.