High average power mode-locked figure-eight Yb fibre master oscillator.

For the first time, we demonstrate the possibility to generate record-high output radiation power exceeding 1 W in an all-fibre figure-eight mode-locked Yb fibre master oscillator based on non-linear amplifying loop mirror. Generated at the repetition rate of 25 MHz clusters of sub-pulses with duration of no more than 200 fs have envelope width of 23 ps or less. Two typical mode-locked laser regimes with substantially different generation spectra are identified and results of their study presented. Numerical modelling of laser generation in the proposed layout agrees well with the measured experimental data.