Active and passive mode-locking of the Cr2+:ZnSe laser

We report purely active mode-locking of Cr2+:ZnSe laser with 15-30 ps pulses as well as acousto-optically initiated passive mode-locking with ~4ps pulses at up to 400 mW of output power. Pulse-break-up is observed at intracavity peak-powers exceeding ~50 kW.

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