Dual frequency subnanosecond pulses from a millimeter-cavity dye laser

Dual frequency dye laser pulses of subnanosecond duration can be achieved by taking advantage of the spiking behavior of two lasing dyes within a single high-loss cavity. Two 10-kW pulses 1.5 ns apart were observed, each of 600-ps width, at wavelengths of 565 and 615 nm, respectively. The phenomenon of spiking in organic dye lasers has received attention as a potential mechanism for the creation of useable short pulses [1]-[4]. The feasibility of this was recently demonstrated by Lin and Shank [5], who achieved subnanosecond pulses from a nitrogen laser pumped dye laser with a high-loss cavity. By maintaining proper control of the pumping level and the cavity loss, they were able to isolate the initial dye laser spike which occurs with each pump pulse, while suppressing the formation of the relaxation oscillations which usually follow it.