Dual-wavelength, self-starting saturable Bragg reflector mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser

We have demonstrated a coupled dual cavity, femtosecond laser system that is self-starting, robust and independently tunable. The lasers incorporate two saturable Bragg reflectors (SBRs) for mode-locked operation. The inclusion of SBRs effectively separates the modelocking and coupling processes and also reduces cavity alignment sensitivity. Dual laser operation was studied with respect to output characteristics, crystal position, cavity length, and wavelength dragging. The coupled SBR mode-locked lasers were tunable from 770 to 820 nm and 810 to 860 nm, respectively. A crystal translation of up 660 /spl mu/m did not disrupt coupled operation or pulse production. Large wavelength dragging of up to 30 nm was produced by altering the length of the cavities. While in coupled operation, cross-correlation measurements demonstrated synchronization of the two femtosecond lasers to well within the individual pulsewidths.