Optically-induced switching between mode-locked and unmode-locked continuous wave regimes of a femtosecond Cr4+: forsterite laser

D. A. Walsh; C. E. Crombie; W. Sibbett; C. T. A. Brown; V. G. Savitski; D. Burns; S. Calvez

doi:10.1117/12.922340

Optically-induced switching between mode-locked and unmode-locked continuous wave regimes of a femtosecond Cr4+: forsterite laser

D. A. Walsh^*, C. E. Crombie, W. Sibbett, C. T. A. Brown, V. G. Savitski, D. Burns, S. Calvez

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

The ability to control the temporal output from a femtosecond laser can enable the same laser to be used for multiple functions, for example, the laser used in an optical tweezers system could be used as a constant-intensity source to trap a biological cell and then be temporarily switched to mode-locked operation to effect photoporation. Here, we report the rapid switching of a Cr4+:forsterite laser between mode-locked and unmode-locked continuous wave (CW) regimes via the optical pumping of an intracavity SESAM element. Mode-locking of the laser was initiated by an intracavity quantum well (GaInAsN) SESAM having an anti-resonant design (Delta R similar to 0.3%, lambda(PL)similar to 1310nm) that yielded transform-limited 89fs pulses centered around 1296nm with a repetition rate of 162MHz at an average power of 64mW. Upon excitation of the SESAM with 600mW of extra-cavity power from an 808nm semiconductor diode laser, switching could be induced between the unmode-locked and mode-locked regimes. Transitions free of Q-switching or relaxation oscillations were observed with

Original language	English
Title of host publication	LASER SOURCES AND APPLICATIONS
Editors	T Graf, JI Mackenzie, H Jelinkova, J Powell
Place of Publication	BELLINGHAM
Publisher	SPIE
Number of pages	10
Volume	8433
ISBN (Print)	978-0-8194-9125-1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1117/12.922340
Publication status	Published - 15 May 2012
Event	Conference on Laser Sources and Applications - Brussels, Belgium Duration: 16 Apr 2012 → 19 Apr 2012

Publication series

Name	Proceedings of SPIE
Publisher	SPIE-INT SOC OPTICAL ENGINEERING
Volume	8433
ISSN (Print)	0277-786X

Conference

Conference	Conference on Laser Sources and Applications
Country/Territory	Belgium
Period	16/04/12 → 19/04/12

Keywords

laser
mode-locking
regime switching
SESAM
forsterite
GaInAsN
femtosecond
SATURABLE BRAGG REFLECTORS
LOCKING
MICROSCOPY
BIOPSY
SKIN

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10.1117/12.922340

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Walsh, D. A., Crombie, C. E., Sibbett, W., Brown, C. T. A., Savitski, V. G., Burns, D., & Calvez, S. (2012). Optically-induced switching between mode-locked and unmode-locked continuous wave regimes of a femtosecond Cr4+: forsterite laser. In T. Graf, JI. Mackenzie, H. Jelinkova, & J. Powell (Eds.), LASER SOURCES AND APPLICATIONS (Vol. 8433). (Proceedings of SPIE; Vol. 8433). SPIE. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.922340

@inproceedings{6cb4f55c876f4c50a5ecf068d19d913a,

title = "Optically-induced switching between mode-locked and unmode-locked continuous wave regimes of a femtosecond Cr4+: forsterite laser",

abstract = "The ability to control the temporal output from a femtosecond laser can enable the same laser to be used for multiple functions, for example, the laser used in an optical tweezers system could be used as a constant-intensity source to trap a biological cell and then be temporarily switched to mode-locked operation to effect photoporation. Here, we report the rapid switching of a Cr4+:forsterite laser between mode-locked and unmode-locked continuous wave (CW) regimes via the optical pumping of an intracavity SESAM element. Mode-locking of the laser was initiated by an intracavity quantum well (GaInAsN) SESAM having an anti-resonant design (Delta R similar to 0.3%, lambda(PL)similar to 1310nm) that yielded transform-limited 89fs pulses centered around 1296nm with a repetition rate of 162MHz at an average power of 64mW. Upon excitation of the SESAM with 600mW of extra-cavity power from an 808nm semiconductor diode laser, switching could be induced between the unmode-locked and mode-locked regimes. Transitions free of Q-switching or relaxation oscillations were observed with",

keywords = "laser, mode-locking, regime switching, SESAM, forsterite, GaInAsN, femtosecond, SATURABLE BRAGG REFLECTORS, LOCKING, MICROSCOPY, BIOPSY, SKIN",

author = "Walsh, {D. A.} and Crombie, {C. E.} and W. Sibbett and Brown, {C. T. A.} and Savitski, {V. G.} and D. Burns and S. Calvez",

year = "2012",

month = may,

day = "15",

doi = "10.1117/12.922340",

language = "English",

isbn = "978-0-8194-9125-1",

volume = "8433",

series = "Proceedings of SPIE",

publisher = "SPIE",

editor = "T Graf and JI Mackenzie and H Jelinkova and J Powell",

booktitle = "LASER SOURCES AND APPLICATIONS",

address = "United States",

note = "Conference on Laser Sources and Applications ; Conference date: 16-04-2012 Through 19-04-2012",

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Walsh, DA, Crombie, CE, Sibbett, W, Brown, CTA, Savitski, VG, Burns, D & Calvez, S 2012, Optically-induced switching between mode-locked and unmode-locked continuous wave regimes of a femtosecond Cr4+: forsterite laser. in T Graf, JI Mackenzie, H Jelinkova & J Powell (eds), LASER SOURCES AND APPLICATIONS. vol. 8433, Proceedings of SPIE, vol. 8433, SPIE, BELLINGHAM, Conference on Laser Sources and Applications, Belgium, 16/04/12. https://doi.org/10.1117/12.922340

Optically-induced switching between mode-locked and unmode-locked continuous wave regimes of a femtosecond Cr4+: forsterite laser. / Walsh, D. A.; Crombie, C. E.; Sibbett, W. et al.
LASER SOURCES AND APPLICATIONS. ed. / T Graf; JI Mackenzie; H Jelinkova; J Powell. Vol. 8433 BELLINGHAM: SPIE, 2012. (Proceedings of SPIE; Vol. 8433).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

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T1 - Optically-induced switching between mode-locked and unmode-locked continuous wave regimes of a femtosecond Cr4+

T2 - Conference on Laser Sources and Applications

AU - Walsh, D. A.

AU - Crombie, C. E.

AU - Sibbett, W.

AU - Brown, C. T. A.

AU - Savitski, V. G.

AU - Burns, D.

AU - Calvez, S.

PY - 2012/5/15

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N2 - The ability to control the temporal output from a femtosecond laser can enable the same laser to be used for multiple functions, for example, the laser used in an optical tweezers system could be used as a constant-intensity source to trap a biological cell and then be temporarily switched to mode-locked operation to effect photoporation. Here, we report the rapid switching of a Cr4+:forsterite laser between mode-locked and unmode-locked continuous wave (CW) regimes via the optical pumping of an intracavity SESAM element. Mode-locking of the laser was initiated by an intracavity quantum well (GaInAsN) SESAM having an anti-resonant design (Delta R similar to 0.3%, lambda(PL)similar to 1310nm) that yielded transform-limited 89fs pulses centered around 1296nm with a repetition rate of 162MHz at an average power of 64mW. Upon excitation of the SESAM with 600mW of extra-cavity power from an 808nm semiconductor diode laser, switching could be induced between the unmode-locked and mode-locked regimes. Transitions free of Q-switching or relaxation oscillations were observed with

AB - The ability to control the temporal output from a femtosecond laser can enable the same laser to be used for multiple functions, for example, the laser used in an optical tweezers system could be used as a constant-intensity source to trap a biological cell and then be temporarily switched to mode-locked operation to effect photoporation. Here, we report the rapid switching of a Cr4+:forsterite laser between mode-locked and unmode-locked continuous wave (CW) regimes via the optical pumping of an intracavity SESAM element. Mode-locking of the laser was initiated by an intracavity quantum well (GaInAsN) SESAM having an anti-resonant design (Delta R similar to 0.3%, lambda(PL)similar to 1310nm) that yielded transform-limited 89fs pulses centered around 1296nm with a repetition rate of 162MHz at an average power of 64mW. Upon excitation of the SESAM with 600mW of extra-cavity power from an 808nm semiconductor diode laser, switching could be induced between the unmode-locked and mode-locked regimes. Transitions free of Q-switching or relaxation oscillations were observed with

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KW - GaInAsN

KW - femtosecond

KW - SATURABLE BRAGG REFLECTORS

KW - LOCKING

KW - MICROSCOPY

KW - BIOPSY

KW - SKIN

U2 - 10.1117/12.922340

DO - 10.1117/12.922340

M3 - Conference contribution

SN - 978-0-8194-9125-1

VL - 8433

T3 - Proceedings of SPIE

BT - LASER SOURCES AND APPLICATIONS

A2 - Graf, T

A2 - Mackenzie, JI

A2 - Jelinkova, H

A2 - Powell, J

PB - SPIE

CY - BELLINGHAM

Y2 - 16 April 2012 through 19 April 2012

ER -

Walsh DA, Crombie CE, Sibbett W, Brown CTA, Savitski VG, Burns D et al. Optically-induced switching between mode-locked and unmode-locked continuous wave regimes of a femtosecond Cr4+: forsterite laser. In Graf T, Mackenzie JI, Jelinkova H, Powell J, editors, LASER SOURCES AND APPLICATIONS. Vol. 8433. BELLINGHAM: SPIE. 2012. (Proceedings of SPIE). doi: 10.1117/12.922340

Optically-induced switching between mode-locked and unmode-locked continuous wave regimes of a femtosecond Cr4+: forsterite laser

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