Ultrafast operation on a novel Nd:LaMgAl11O19 disordered crystal laser.

• The performance of passively mode-locked Nd:LMA laser was achieved for the first time. • A continuous wide tuning range of roughly 38 nm was obtained for the tuning operation. • The highest output power of Nd:LMA ultrafast laser was achieved. A 5 at.% Nd:LaMgAl 11 O 19 (Nd:LMA) disordered crystal was successfully fabricated by the Czochralski method. A continuous wide tuning range of roughly 38 nm (1051 nm ∼ 1089 nm) was obtained for the tuning operation. The performance of diode-pumped passively mode-locked Nd:LMA laser was successfully achieved for the first time. By employing a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM), a continuous-wave mode-locked (CWML) laser with pulse duration of 11.2 ps was delivered, corresponding repetition rate was 55 MHz. The maximum average output power was 122 mW at a central wavelength of 1054.7 nm. These results indicated that the Nd:LMA was a promising laser material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]