Pulsed-diode-pumped, all-solid-state, electro-optically controlled picosecond Nd : YAG lasers

The results of the development of repetitively pulsed, diode-pumped, electro-optically controlled picosecond Nd : YAG lasers of two designs are presented. The first design uses the active-passive mode locking with electro-optical lasing control and semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors (SESAM). This design allows the generation of 15 - 50-ps pulses with an energy up to 0.5 mJ and a maximum pulse repetition rate of 100 Hz. The laser of the second design generates 30-ps pulses due to combination of positive and negative electro-optical feedback and the control of the electro-optical modulator by the photocurrent of high-speed semiconductor structures.