64-dB amplification of 19-psec laser-diode pulses in a Ti-sapphire laser

We report 64-dB amplification of 19.4-psec pulses at 820 nm at a 2-kHz repetition rate in an injection-seeded Ti:Al(2)O(3) laser oscillator. In a single-pass amplifier configuration, a 5.2-dB gain was measured. We discuss the advantages of the short-pulse injection-seeding technique as a means of constructing an all-solid-state tunable source of picosecond and subpicosecond laser pulses in the near infrared.