1.5 /spl mu/m GaInNAs semiconductor saturable absorber for passively modelocked solid-state lasers

Fully self-starting and passively modelocking of a 1.5 /spl mu/m solid-state laser with a GaInNAs semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM) has been demonstrated for the first time. A saturation fluence of 20 /spl mu/J/cm/sup 2/, a modulation depth of 0.39% and a fast temporal decay of 18 ps were measured. These well-suited nonlinear optical SESAM parameters allowed for self-starting and passive modelocking of a diode-pumped Er:Yb:glass laser at 1.534 /spl mu/m with a pulse duration of 5 ps at 61 MHz.