Colliding pulse modelocking of solid state lasers

Abstract

Colliding pulse modelocking of solid state lasers with an antiresonant ring structure has been studied experimentally. By using pentamethylidyne dye as a saturable absorber, we have obtained pulses close to Fourier‐transform limit from colliding pulse mode‐locked Nd:YAG and Nd:phosphate glass lasers. The average pulse duration throughout the pulse train is 8 psec and 3.7 psec, respectively.