Mode-locking of a high power, 888 nm pumped Nd:YVO4 laser using nonlinear polarization rotation via Type I second harmonic generation.

Continuous-wave mode-locking of a laser exploiting the nonlinear polarization rotation (NPR) technique via Type I second harmonic generation is demonstrated for the first time. The NPR is generated by a lithium triborate crystal and transformed into nonlinear cavity losses of a 888 nm pumped Nd:YVO4 laser. Self-starting, reliable mode-locking has been achieved at a high average output power of 20.6 W and a pulse duration of 7.3 ps. Furthermore, transform limited pulses down to 2.7 ps have been demonstrated at 9.9 W.