Pulse-width stabilization of a synchronously pumped mode-locked dye laser

Using an analog feedback loop acting on the mode-locker frequency of a synchronously pumped mode-locked dye laser, we have observed a substantial decrease of pulse-width variations at frequencies up to 10 kHz at the cost of an increase in higher-frequency noise. A digital loop acting on the cavity length decreased noise at low frequencies. Using these methods, we have generated reproducible and stabilized frequency-tunable subpicosecond pulses, and have determined the effects of noise in the mode-locking frequency of the pumping Ar⁺ laser and drift in the cavity length of the dye laser.