Sub-100 fs pulse generation in a diode pumped Yb:Sc2SiO5 laser

Abstract We report on the sub-100 fs pulse generation in a diode pumped Yb 3+ :Sc 2 SiO 5 (Yb:SSO) laser. Pumped by a 976 nm single emitter diode and mode-locked with a SESAM, the laser generated stable mode locked pulses with 71 fs duration, 89 MHz repetition rate, and an average power of 38 mW at 1044.6 nm under the incident pump power of 6.5 W. To the best of our knowledge, this is the shortest pulse ever produced from an Yb 3+ doped orthosilicate crystal laser.