Passively mode-locked Nd:YVO/sub 4/ laser with up to 13 GHz repetition rate

Summary form only given. We demonstrate passive modelocking of a Nd: vanadate (Nd:YVO/sub 4/) laser to repetition rates of up to 13 GHz. With Ti:sapphire pumping, we achieved modelocking at 13 GHz with 200 mW of average output power and pulse widths of 9.5 ps. With diode pumping, we achieved modelocking at a repetition rate of 12.6 GHz with 195 mW of average output power and a pulse duration of 8.8 ps. In all cases we operated the laser at its fundamental cavity repetition rate, i.e. the repetition rate of the laser equals the laser cavity free-spectral range, as opposed to harmonic modelocking where the repetition rate is an integer multiple of the cavity free-spectral range.