High-power picosecond Nd:GdVO4 laser mode locked by SHG in periodically poled stoichiometric lithium tantalate.

Periodically poled stoichiometric lithium-tantalate is used for mode locking of a diode-pumped Nd:GdVO(4) laser by intracavity second-harmonic generation. Stable and self-starting operation is observed achieving average output powers of up to 5 W at a pulse-repetition rate of 107 MHz. The obtained pulse durations range from 6.5 ps at maximum output power down to 3.2 ps at 1.4 W.