Continuous-wave and picosecond mode-locked output from an ultra-violet Ce:LiCAF laser

In this paper, we will show results of the first quasi-cw and mode-locked output from a Ce:LiCAF laser, opening the way to a new approach to generating attosecond pulses using three mirror cavity. The 1.25 mm-long cerium crystal was synchronously pumped by a quadrupled mode-locked Nd:YAG laser. The pump was chopped to avoid thermal effects in the doubling crystals. By matching the cavity lengths of the pump and cerium laser, picosecond mode-locked operation was achieved at 290 nm.