Generation and kilohertz rate amplification of synchronized femtosecond and picosecond laser pulses

Synchronized femtosecond and tunable picosecond laser pulses have been generated using a linear cavity configuration in both lasers. The long-term stability of the synchronization, as well as the frequency of the synchronously pumped femtosecond dye laser, is assured by active stabilization of the cavity length. Additionally, the picosecond and femtosecond pulses have been amplified in dual amplifier chains to pulse energies in the microjoule range at a 1 kHz repetition rate. The total peak intensity available for two-photon, nonlinear excitations is on the order of 10/sup 9/ times greater than that available from unamplified beams.>