Simultaneous two-wavelegth tunable dye laser with no mode competition and with a wavelength separation of more than 200 nm

A versatile simultaneous two-wavelength tunable dye laser is described. The two wavelengths are generated by means of a novel pumping arrangement which is suitable for operating with a linewidth between 0.001 nm and the broadband regime. There is no mode competition between the two wavelengths and the power ratio is continuously variable. If required, separate dyes can be used to generate the two wavelengths so facilitating a broad range of wavelength separations. Each wavelength is independently tunable but only one dispersive element is required in the cavity.