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• The stable CW ML pulsed with pulse duration as short as 1.97 ps was experimentally obtained. • We proved it experimentally that under the increasing saturation parameters , output pulses could be narrowed in the steady state cavity. • We used the generalized Ginzburg-Landau equation for the mode-locked pulse dynamic evolutions. • We showed that the pulse-narrowing mechanism in solid-state cavity at water absorption band. Ultrafast solid-state laser sources operating in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) region are of significant importance in a variety of applications. However, the realization of ultrafast lasers with narrow pulse width at wavelengths between 1.8 and 2 µm has remained a big challenge due to the strong water molecule absorption. Here, we report a stable mode-locking (ML) pulsed lasing at 1967 nm and narrow pulse duration of 1.97 ps in a diode-pumped Tm:CaYAlO 4 (Tm:CYA) crystal laser oscillator. By employing the SESAMs with different modulation depths as mode-lockers, we show that under the increasing saturation parameters, output pulses could be narrowed in the steady state cavity. Furtherly, the generalized Ginzburg-Landau equation is used for the mode-locked pulse dynamic evolutions. It shows that the pulse- regulation mechanism in solid-state cavity at water absorption band is governed by the balance of the laser gain, the modulation depth, and the saturation parameter. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of pulse regulation mechanism in the 2 μm water absorption band by a commercial laser diode in a Tm:CYA laser. Our results provide an effective method for pulse regulation of ultra-short mid-IR pulses and even few-cycle pulses with controllable optical spectra in the water absorption band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LaMgAl 11 O 19 (LMA) crystal with nominal Sm3+ concentrations of 8 at.% was grown by the Czochralski method. Polarized absorption spectra, polarized emission spectra and fluorescence decay curve of Sm:LMA crystal were recorded at room temperature. The absorption cross-sections at 404 nm were calculated to be 2.33 × 10−20 cm2 and 0.86 × 10−20 cm2 for σ and π polarization, respectively. The spontaneous transition rates, branching ratios and the radiative lifetime of the 4G 5/2 multiplet, were calculated. The Judd-Ofelt theory has been applied to evaluate the Ω t (t = 2, 4, 6) intensity parameters. The highest stimulated emission cross-sections for the 4G 5/2 → 6H 7/2 transition around 594 nm were calculated to be 1.67 × 10−21 cm2 for σ polarization and 1.15 × 10−21 cm2 for π polarization, with full width at half maximum (FWHM) of 7.68 nm and 7.27 nm, respectively. The fluorescence lifetime of the 4G 5/2 manifold was 1.84 ms. All the results show that Sm:LMA crystal would be a promising orange-red solid state laser material. • The most intensive absorption line of Sm3+ ion, suitable for 405 nm InGaN laser diode. • The rigidity of Sm:LMA crystal is higher than some host crystals. • The value Ω 2 of Sm:LMA crystal is comparable to Sm:LiYF 4. • The large parameter σ em τ of Sm3+ in LMA is beneficial for the solid state laser. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]