Quantum dot saturable absorber for passive mode locking of Nd:YVO4 lasers at 1064 nm

An InAs/GaAs quantum dot saturable absorber mirror was used to mode lock a Nd:YVO4 solid-state laser at the operation wavelength of 1064.6 nm. Multi-watt average power was obtained during stable cw mode locking with pulses as short as 24 ps, and with a repetition rate of 65 MHz.