Mode-locking operation of a flash-lamp-pumped Nd:YAG laser at 1.064µm with Zakharov-Manakov solitons

Abstract : We report experimental results on the mode-locked operation of a flash-lamp-pumped Nd:YAG laser at 1.064 µm. The KTP crystal, which induces passive mode-locking, exploits the existence and properties of spatial Zakharov-Manakov soli-ton dynamics. A train of pulses with duration close to 100 ps, repetition rate of 136 M Hz and modulation depth almost 100% has been produced. The mode-locked pulses are modulated with a longer 180 ns pulse envelope with repetition rate of 10 Hz. Oscilloscope trace of a train of mode-locked 100 ps pulses of the flash-pumped Nd:YAG at 1.064 µm. Inset: selected mode-locked pulse within the train.