100 W, 1 mJ, sub-200 fs high performance laser generation using cascaded Yb: CGA and Yb: YAG amplification.

We demonstrate a high-power solid-state femtosecond laser system based on two types of ytterbium (Yb)-doped gain media. This system effectively harnesses the advantages of Yb: CGA and Yb: YAG crystals: broad spectral output capability and power-scaling potential. The Yb: CGA regenerative amplifier achieved an output power of 80 W at a repetition rate of 100 kHz, with spectral full width at a half maximum (FWHM) of 10.2 nm. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest average power output from a Yb: CGA regenerative amplifier. Subsequently, by cascading the two stages of Yb: YAG single-pass amplification, the laser output power was increased to 121 W. Owing to the mismatch in the gain peaks between Yb: CGA and Yb: YAG, the amplified spectral FWHM broadens to 13.9 nm. After compression, the laser power and pulse width were 111 W and 184 fs, respectively. This study establishes a paradigm for cascade amplification of high-power, short-pulse-width lasers using different gain crystals.