title: Efficient high repetition rate synchronous amplification of a passively mode-locked femtosecond dye laser.
abstract: We demonstrate reliable operation of a stable synchronously pumped dye amplifier for femtosecond pulses from a passively mode-locked dye laser. Conversion efficiencies of 8% are obtained with output powers of 40 mW and 50-fs pulse widths at repetition rates of up to 10 kHz with pulse energy stability of 3% rms. Synchronization is achieved by driving the frequency-modulated mode-locked seed oscillator for the regenerative amplifier pump laser directly from the dye laser oscillator. Low timing jitter between the dye oscillator and seed laser of less than 1 ps leads to efficient amplification and low amplified spontaneous emission (1%) from the amplifier.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sweetser
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Palese
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Walmsley
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Radzewicz
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Miller