Self-mode-locked diode-pumped Cr:LiSAF laser.

We describe an all-solid-state tunable self-mode-locked Cr:LiSAF laser that is pumped with a single 250-mW laser diode and produces almost-bandwidth-limited pulses of 97-fs duration. The self-mode locking is initiated by a regeneratively driven acousto-optic modulator, and the cavity incorporates a hard aperture in the form of an adjustable slit. The design considerations for low-threshold self-mode-locked diode-pumped lasers are outlined.