Generation of Broadly Tunable Subpicosecond Light Pulses from a Synchronously and Passively Mode-Locked CW Dye Laser

Transform-limited pulses with a minimum width as short as 0.30 ps have been obtained from a synchronously pumped rhodamine 6G dye laser with a dye solution of mixed gain and saturable absorber (DODCI) media. Stable subpicosecond pulses (0.30–0.85 ps) were generated in a wide tuning range of 574–611 nm using a broad-band wedged-etalon tuning element. With the frequency tuning element inside the cavity, the cavity-length detuning range to maintain perfect mode-locking was ±10 µm which is less critical than for synchronous mode-locking alone, and the range extended to ±1.5 mm without the frequency tuning element.