Dual-passive mode-locking of a high-power,TEM/sub 00/-mode, Nd:GdVO/sub 4/ laser

The novel combination of a saturable Bragg mirror (amplitude modulation) and a weak second-harmonic nonlinear mirror (phase locker) generates very stable 10-30 ps pulses at 76 MHz from a 7 W, TEM/sub 00/-mode, shaped, diode-pumped, Brewster Nd:GdVO/sub 4/ laser.