Patent ID: 8798106

Claim:
A mode-locked laser cavity comprising: a mode-locking mechanism configured to generate mode-locked pulse oscillation in the cavity; a gain medium for amplifying a light pulse, the gain medium having a saturated gain profile for amplifying the light pulse as a function of wavelength; at least one mirror on one side of the gain medium; and an output coupler that, together with the mirror(s), defines a light path in the laser cavity, wherein the gain medium is positioned in the light path, wherein the output coupler is selected from: (a) a transmitting output coupler configured to transmit an output portion of the light pulse out of the laser cavity and to reflect a recirculating portion of the light pulse along the light path back through the gain medium; and (b) a reflecting output coupler configured to reflect the output portion of the light pulse out of the laser cavity and to transmit the recirculating portion of the light pulse along the light path back through the gain medium, wherein the output coupler is configured to transmit or reflect the output portion of the light pulse from the laser cavity with an output profile that is a function of wavelength, and wherein the output profile of the output coupler substantially matches the saturated gain profile of the gain medium across a range of lasing wavelengths.