High-average power diode-pumped SBR picosecond Nd vanadate laser with harmonic generation

We present a 10W average power saturable Bragg reflector (SBR) c-Lv modelocked laser operating at 1064 nm. The laser produces 35ps pulses at repetition rates between 75 MHz and 250MHz. The laser gain material used is Nd:vanadate (Nd:YVO4), which is pumped with 30W from a fibre coupled diode bar operating at 808nm. SBR modelocking provides a reliable and robust method of modelocking solid state lasers. It behaves like a high damage threshold solid state saturable absorber. The modelocking process is self-starting and requires no active cavity stabilisation thus enabling turn-key operation. We present results on power stability, damage thresholds and beam quality taken over many hours of operation. In addition we present our results on efficient single pass second and third harmonic generation of this laser system using LBO and KTP.