SESAM mode-locked Nd:fiber laser at 920 nm for nonlinear optical microscopy

Wereportonthedesign,modeling,andcharacterizationofadiode-pumpedNd-doped all-polarization-maintaining fiberlaseroperating at920nminapassivelymode-lockedregime enabled by a SESAM. The laser generates pulse trains with a repetition frequency of 18.5 MHz andanaverageoutputpowerof0.26mWinanopticalbandwidthof0.6nm. Withinthebroad integrationbandwidthfrom50Hzto9.25MHz,theNd:fiberlaserexhibitsultra-lowintensity noise, at a relative level of 0.04%, and timing jitter below 2 ps. Moreover, we demonstrate the ability to lock the laser’s repetition frequency to that of an Yb-doped oscillator, enabling stimulatedRaman scatteringmicroscopy inthe fingerprintregion.