Abstract
A general technique for subnanosecond pulse generation from laser−pumped dye lasers is described. The technique makes use of the resonator transients. These transients are in the form of damped relaxation oscillation and their durations can be controlled by proper choices of photon cavity decay time and pumping level. High−repetition−rate tunable dye laser pulses of subnanosecond durations have been obtained from N2 laser pumped dye solutions in the near−uv and visible regions. These tunable subnanosecond pulses should provide useful excitation sources for nanosecond absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy.