Coherence effects in hybridly mode-locked dye lasers: theory and experiment

A semiclassical model is presented for a synchronously-pumped mode-locked dye laser with a saturable absorber included in the cavity. The model is verified through comparison with experiments performed on a commercially available hybridly mode-locked dye laser operating with separate jets of rhodamine 6G and DODCI/DQOCI. The effects of varying the absorber molarity and the saturation parameter are mapped theoretically for two different saturable absorber dyes, DODCI and DQOCI. The model predicts a pulse shape and therefore allows more detailed interpretation of measured autocorrelations. A better understanding of this important ultrashort pulse laser system is gained, and possible ways to improve performance are suggested.<
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