Ultrashort light pulse generator

A method for generating ultrashort light pulses, comprising:

• circulating a cavity pulse in a cavity defined by an optical path apt to induce a spectral broadening of light propagating therealong and a pair of spectrally selective filters disposed at opposite extremities of the optical path, each spectrally selective filter having a corresponding reflective spectral band, the reflective spectral bands of the spectrally selective filters substantially overlapping, thereby defining an overlap spectral range;
• amplifying and spectrally broadening the cavity pulse as it propagates within said cavity;
• filtering the cavity pulse using a blocking filter positioned between the spectrally selective filters and configured to remove light at wavelengths within a blocking spectral range from the optical path, the blocking spectral range including at least the overlap spectral range;
• at each spectrally selective filter, reflecting a portion of the cavity pulse matching said overlap spectral range for another pass within said cavity;
• and
• at one or both of said spectrally selective filters, outputting light transmitted through said spectrally selective filter as said ultrashort light pulses.