Red diode-pumped SESAM and Kerr-lens modelocked alexandrite lasers

We report quantum-well SESAM and Kerr-lens modelocked alexandrite lasers pumped by red laser diodes emitting at 638 nm. The SESAM modelocked laser emits 95 fs pulses with an average output power of 315 mW at a pulse repetition rate of 84 MHz with a peak power of 35 kW and a pulse energy of 3.8 nJ. The Kerr-lens modelocked laser emits 44 fs pulses with an average output power of 110 mW at 100 MHz pulse repetition rate, corresponding to 22 kW of peak power and a pulse energy of 1.1 nJ. The combination of direct diode pumping with robust SESAM modelocking or sub-50 fs pulses generated by Kerr-lens modelocking enables various ultrafast laser applications.