Characteristics of an Nd:CaLaSOAP mode-locked oscillator

Neodynium doped calcium lanthanum silicate oxyapatite (Nd:CaLaSOAP) has properties intermediate between Nd:YAG and Nd:glass that make it desirable for use as a pulsed-mode-locked oscillator at 1.06 μ. Time resolve spectroscopy, high speed image converter streak recordings, and two-photon fluorescence pulse duration measurements were used to investigate the output of such a laser. Pulse durations from 5 to 15 ps were observed under different operating conditions.