Passive mode locking of an in-band-pumped Ho:YLiF4 laser at 2.06 mu m

We demonstrate the passive mode-locking operation of an in-band-pumped Ho:YLiF4 laser at 2.06 mu m using a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror based on InGaAsSb quantum wells. A transform-limited pulse train with minimum duration of 1.1ps and average power of 0.58W has been obtained at a repetition frequency of 122MHz. A maximum output power of 1.7W has been generated with a corresponding pulse duration of 1.9ps. (C) 2011 Optical Society of America