Near-maximum-efficiency two-wavelength Ti:Al2O3 laser using a novel combined PSIL-dual-pulse pumping spectral control

We demonstrate how a pulsed two-wavelength tunable Ti:Al2O3 laser can operate at near maximum efficiency, obtained in an optimized non-selective cavity. To achieve this efficiency we solve the intrinsic of the Passive Self- Injection Locking (PSIL) method problem of non-controlled free lasing at high pump level by combining the PSIL control with an appropriate dual-pulse pumping. Laser efficiency is increased and the background emission is limited to less than 1 percent in a region ten times larger compared with the standard PSIL control. From analysis we have found optimum conditions and show the advantages of this combined technique. The proposed approach is compared with spectral control of a Ti:Al2O3 laser, realized by injection from a coupled two-wavelength dye laser.