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Petrulenas A, Mackonis P, Rodin AM. Signal-to-idler energy conversion from 1.9 to 2.3 µm by transient stimulated Raman chirped-pulse amplification. OPTICS LETTERS 2023; 48:1598-1601. [PMID: 37221719 DOI: 10.1364/ol.481811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The combination of optical parametric and transient stimulated Raman amplification of chirped pulses demonstrates a new approach for idler energy buildup in the short-wave (SW)IR range. Optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification (OPCPA) output pulses in the wavelength range from ∼1800 nm to ∼2000 nm for the signal and from ∼2100 nm to ∼2400 nm for the idler were used as pump and Stokes seed, respectively, in a stimulated Raman amplifier based on a KGd(WO4)2 crystal. Both OPCPA and its supercontinuum seed were pumped with ∼1.2-ps transform-limited pulses from a Yb:YAG chirped-pulse amplifier. The transient stimulated Raman chirped-pulse amplifier provides a 33% increase in idler energy with nearly transform-limited ∼53-fs pulses after compression.
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2
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Kurihara T, Yang T, Mizuno T, Kanai T, Itatani J. Highly CEP-stable optical parametric amplifier at 2 µm with a few-cycle duration and 100 kHz repetition rate. OPTICS EXPRESS 2023; 31:11649-11658. [PMID: 37155795 DOI: 10.1364/oe.481126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
We develop a BiB3O6 (BiBO)-based optical parametric amplifier in the spectral region around 2 µm using a Yb:KGW amplifier operating at 100 kHz. The two-stage degenerate optical parametric amplification results in a typical output energy of 30 µJ after compression, spectrum covering 1.7-2.5 µm range, and a pulse duration fully compressible down to 16.4 fs, corresponding to 2.3 cycles. Due to the inline difference frequency generation of the seed pulses, the carrier envelope phase (CEP) is passively stabilized without feedback over 11 hours at the level below 100 mrad including a long-term drift. Short-term statistical analysis in the spectral domain further shows a behavior qualitatively different from that of parametric fluorescence, indicating high degree of suppression of optical parametric fluorescence. The high phase stability together with the few-cycle pulse duration is promising for the investigation of high-field phenomena such as subcycle spectroscopy in solids or high harmonics generation.
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3
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Sytcevich I, Viotti AL, Guo C, Vogelsang J, Langer F, L'Huillier A, Arnold CL. Few-cycle short-wave-infrared light source for strong-field experiments at 200 kHz repetition rate. OPTICS EXPRESS 2022; 30:27858-27867. [PMID: 36236946 DOI: 10.1364/oe.460915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
We present a compact, few-cycle, short-wave infrared light source delivering 13 µJ, carrier-envelope phase (CEP) stable pulses around 2 µm, operating at 200 kHz repetition rate. Starting from an ytterbium fiber amplifier, the seed is produced via white-light generation followed by difference frequency generation, and later amplified in two BiBO nonlinear crystals. A pulse duration of 15.8 fs is measured with the dispersion scan technique, while the CEP stability is assessed via a monolithic spectral interferometry scheme. We demonstrate the potential of the system to drive strong-field experiments by performing high-order harmonic generation in argon gas.
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4
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Wang L, Chen W, Zhao Y, Loiko P, Mateos X, Guina M, Pan Z, Mero M, Griebner U, Petrov V. Sub-50 fs pulse generation from a SESAM mode-locked Tm,Ho-codoped calcium aluminate laser. OPTICS LETTERS 2021; 46:2642-2645. [PMID: 34061077 DOI: 10.1364/ol.426113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We report on sub-50 fs pulse generation from a passively mode-locked (ML) Tm,Ho-codoped crystalline laser operating in a 2 µm spectral region. A ${\rm Tm},{\rm Ho}{:}{\rm Ca}({\rm Gd},{\rm Lu}){{\rm AlO}_4}$ laser delivers pulses as short as 46 fs at 2033 nm with an average power of 121 mW at a pulse repetition rate of ${\sim}{78}\;{\rm MHz}$ employing a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror as a saturable absorber. To the best of our knowledge, this result represents the shortest pulses ever generated from a Tm- and/or Ho-based solid-state laser. Polarization switching in the anisotropic gain material is observed in the ML regime without any polarization selection elements which is essential for the shortest pulses.
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5
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Chen X, Ruiz C, He F, Zhang J. Mapping initial transverse momenta of tunnel-ionized electrons to rescattering double ionization in nondipole regimes. OPTICS EXPRESS 2020; 28:14884-14896. [PMID: 32403522 DOI: 10.1364/oe.391138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We investigate the double ionization of a model Neon atom in strong middle infrared laser pulses by simulating the classical trajectories of the electron ensemble. After one electron tunnels out from the laser-dressed Coulomb barrier, it might undergo different returning trajectories depending on its initial transverse momentum, which in this wavelength may propagate along or deviate from the polarization direction. This initial transverse momentum determines the rescattering time, and thus some trajectories can have returning time longer than one optical cycle. These late-returning trajectories determine the correlated electron-electron momentum distribution for double ionization and allow us to disentangle each double ionization event from the final momentum distribution. The description of these trajectories allow us also to understand how the nondipole effects modify the correlated electron-electron momentum distribution in double ionization.
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6
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Smith AD, Balčiu̅nas T, Chang YP, Schmidt C, Zinchenko K, Nunes FB, Rossi E, Svoboda V, Yin Z, Wolf JP, Wörner HJ. Femtosecond Soft-X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy of Liquids with a Water-Window High-Harmonic Source. J Phys Chem Lett 2020; 11:1981-1988. [PMID: 32073862 PMCID: PMC7086398 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.9b03559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Femtosecond X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) is a powerful method to investigate the dynamical behavior of a system after photoabsorption in real time. So far, the application of this technique has remained limited to large-scale facilities, such as femtosliced synchrotrons and free-electron lasers (FEL). In this work, we demonstrate femtosecond time-resolved soft-X-ray absorption spectroscopy of liquid samples by combining a sub-micrometer-thin flat liquid jet with a high-harmonic tabletop source covering the entire water-window range (284-538 eV). Our work represents the first extension of tabletop XAS to the oxygen edge of a chemical sample in the liquid phase. In the time domain, our measurements resolve the gradual appearance of absorption features below the carbon K-edge of ethanol and methanol during strong-field ionization and trace the valence-shell ionization dynamics of the liquid alcohols with a temporal resolution of ∼30 fs. This technique opens unique opportunities to study molecular dynamics of chemical systems in the liquid phase with elemental, orbital, and site sensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam D. Smith
- Laboratory
of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Tadas Balčiu̅nas
- GAP-Biophotonics, Université de Genéve, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Yi-Ping Chang
- GAP-Biophotonics, Université de Genéve, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Cédric Schmidt
- GAP-Biophotonics, Université de Genéve, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Fernanda B. Nunes
- Laboratory
of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Emanuele Rossi
- Laboratory
of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Vít Svoboda
- Laboratory
of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Zhong Yin
- Laboratory
of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
- E-mail:
| | - Jean-Pierre Wolf
- GAP-Biophotonics, Université de Genéve, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Hans Jakob Wörner
- Laboratory
of Physical Chemistry, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
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7
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Zhao Y, Wang Y, Chen W, Pan Z, Wang L, Dai X, Yuan H, Zhang Y, Cai H, Bae JE, Choi SY, Rotermund F, Loiko P, Serres JM, Mateos X, Zhou W, Shen D, Griebner U, Petrov V. 67-fs pulse generation from a mode-locked Tm,Ho:CLNGG laser at 2083 nm. OPTICS EXPRESS 2019; 27:1922-1928. [PMID: 30732238 DOI: 10.1364/oe.27.001922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
We report on a mode-locked Tm,Ho:CLNGG laser emitting in the 2 µm spectral range using single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) as a saturable absorber (SA). Pulses with duration of 98 fs are generated at 99.28 MHz repetition rate with an average output power of 123 mW, yielding a pulse energy of 1.24 nJ. Using a 0.5% output coupling, pulses as short as 67 fs, i.e., 10 optical cycles, are produced after extracavity compression with a 3-mm-thick ZnS plate.
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Hong Z, Rezvani SA, Zhang Q, Cao W, Lu P. Ultrabroadband microjoule 1.8 μm laser pulse from a single-stage broadband pumped OPA. OPTICS LETTERS 2018; 43:3706-3709. [PMID: 30067660 DOI: 10.1364/ol.43.003706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
We propose a broadband pumped optical parametric amplification scheme for the generation of a micojoule few-cycle pulse centered at 1.8 μm. Owing to the opposite chirp of the broadband pump and seed pulses, an idler pulse with an FWHM bandwidth of 434 nm is obtained, which can be effectively compressed to a near-transform-limited duration of 13.1 fs by simply compensating for the linear chirp. The picojoule-level seed is amplified to microjoule level in a single stage with a pump pulse of 100 μJ, corresponding to an overall conversion efficiency of 9%. The presented scheme is potentially applicable in various nonlinear crystals with different kinds of femtosecond laser systems, which provides not only an efficient approach of down-converting a near-infrared laser with moderate energy to the mid-infrared region, but also a suitable seeding source in high-energy OPCPA systems.
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9
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Ultrafast Mid-IR Laser Pulses Generation via Chirp Manipulated Optical Parametric Amplification. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/app8050744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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10
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Yin Y, Ren X, Chew A, Li J, Wang Y, Zhuang F, Wu Y, Chang Z. Generation of octave-spanning mid-infrared pulses from cascaded second-order nonlinear processes in a single crystal. Sci Rep 2017; 7:11097. [PMID: 28894279 PMCID: PMC5593916 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11652-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
We report on experimental generation of a 6.8 μJ laser pulse spanning from 1.8 to 4.2 μm from cascaded second-order nonlinear processes in a 0.4-mm BiB3O6 (BIBO) crystal. The nonlinear processes are initiated by intra-pulse difference frequency generation (DFG) using spectrally broadened Ti:Sapphire spectrum, followed by optical parametric amplification (OPA) of the DFG pulse. The highest energy, 12.6 μJ, is achieved in a 0.8-mm BIBO crystal with a spectrum spanning from 1.8 to 3.5 μm. Such cascaded nonlinear processes are enabled by the broadband pump and the coincident phase matching angle of DFG and OPA. The spectrum is initiated from the DFG process and is thus expected to have passive stable carrier-envelope phase, which can be used to seed either a chirped pulse amplifier (CPA) or an optical parametric chirped pulse amplifier (OPCPA) for achieving high-energy few-cycle mid-infrared pulses. Such cascaded second-order nonlinear processes can be found in many other crystals such as KTA, which can extend wavelengths further into mid-infrared. We achieved a 0.8 μJ laser pulse spanning from 2.2 to 5.0 μm in KTA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanchun Yin
- Institute for the Frontier of Attosecond Science and Technology, CREOL and Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, 32816, USA
| | - Xiaoming Ren
- Institute for the Frontier of Attosecond Science and Technology, CREOL and Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, 32816, USA
| | - Andrew Chew
- Institute for the Frontier of Attosecond Science and Technology, CREOL and Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, 32816, USA
| | - Jie Li
- Institute for the Frontier of Attosecond Science and Technology, CREOL and Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, 32816, USA
| | - Yang Wang
- Institute for the Frontier of Attosecond Science and Technology, CREOL and Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, 32816, USA
| | - Fengjiang Zhuang
- Institute for the Frontier of Attosecond Science and Technology, CREOL and Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, 32816, USA
| | - Yi Wu
- Institute for the Frontier of Attosecond Science and Technology, CREOL and Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, 32816, USA
| | - Zenghu Chang
- Institute for the Frontier of Attosecond Science and Technology, CREOL and Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, 32816, USA.
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11
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Yin Y, Chew A, Ren X, Li J, Wang Y, Wu Y, Chang Z. Towards Terawatt Sub-Cycle Long-Wave Infrared Pulses via Chirped Optical Parametric Amplification and Indirect Pulse Shaping. Sci Rep 2017; 8:45794. [PMID: 28367966 PMCID: PMC5377938 DOI: 10.1038/srep45794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Accepted: 03/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
We present an approach for both efficient generation and amplification of 4-12 μm pulses by tailoring the phase matching of the nonlinear crystal Zinc Germanium Phosphide (ZGP) in a narrowband-pumped optical parametric chirped pulse amplifier (OPCPA) and a broadband-pumped dual-chirped optical parametric amplifier (DC-OPA), respectively. Preliminary experimental results are obtained for generating 1.8-4.2 μm super broadband spectra, which can be used to seed both the signal of the OPCPA and the pump of the DC-OPA. The theoretical pump-to-idler conversion efficiency reaches 27% in the DC-OPA pumped by a chirped broadband Cr2+:ZnSe/ZnS laser, enabling the generation of Terawatt-level 4-12 μm pulses with an available large-aperture ZGP. Furthermore, the 4-12 μm idler pulses can be compressed to sub-cycle pulses by compensating the tailored positive chirp of the idler pulses using the bulk compressor NaCl, and by indirectly controlling the higher-order idler phase through tuning the signal (2.4-4.0 μm) phase with a commercially available acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter (AOPDF). A similar approach is also described for generating high-energy 4-12 μm sub-cycle pulses via OPCPA pumped by a 2 μm Ho:YLF laser.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanchun Yin
- Institute for the Frontier of Attosecond Science and Technology, CREOL and Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, 32816, USA
| | - Andrew Chew
- Institute for the Frontier of Attosecond Science and Technology, CREOL and Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, 32816, USA
| | - Xiaoming Ren
- Institute for the Frontier of Attosecond Science and Technology, CREOL and Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, 32816, USA
| | - Jie Li
- Institute for the Frontier of Attosecond Science and Technology, CREOL and Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, 32816, USA
| | - Yang Wang
- Institute for the Frontier of Attosecond Science and Technology, CREOL and Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, 32816, USA
| | - Yi Wu
- Institute for the Frontier of Attosecond Science and Technology, CREOL and Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, 32816, USA
| | - Zenghu Chang
- Institute for the Frontier of Attosecond Science and Technology, CREOL and Department of Physics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, 32816, USA
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12
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Optical Parametric Amplification Techniques for the Generation of High-Energy Few-Optical-Cycles IR Pulses for Strong Field Applications. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2017. [DOI: 10.3390/app7030265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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13
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Yin Y, Li J, Ren X, Wang Y, Chew A, Chang Z. High-energy two-cycle pulses at 3.2 μm by a broadband-pumped dual-chirped optical parametric amplification. OPTICS EXPRESS 2016; 24:24989-24998. [PMID: 27828439 DOI: 10.1364/oe.24.024989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
A design for efficient generation of mid-infrared pulses at 3.2 μm is presented, which is based on numerical simulations of the broadband-pumped dual-chirped optical parametric amplification (DC-OPA) in LiNbO3 doped with 5 mol.% MgO (MgO:LiNbO3). The broadband seed can be generated by difference frequency generation in KTA using spectrally-broadened Ti:Sapphire lasers. The broad DC-OPA phase-matching bandwidth-spanning from 2.4 μm to 4.0 μm-is achieved by chirping both the broadband Ti:Sapphire pump pulses and the seed pulses in such a way that the individual temporal slice of pump spectrum is able to phase match that of seed spectrum. This phase matching scheme allows the use of longer crystals without gain narrowing or loss of conversion efficiency. The theoretical conversion efficiency from the pump to the idler reaches 19.1 %, enabling generation of a few hundred mJ of mid-IR energy with an available large-aperture MgO:LiNbO3 crystal. Furthermore, the commercially available acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter (AOPDF) ensures compression of such a broad bandwidth down to 20 fs (two optical cycles at 3.2 μm).
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14
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Attosecond streaking measurement of extreme ultraviolet pulses using a long-wavelength electric field. Sci Rep 2016; 6:35594. [PMID: 27752115 PMCID: PMC5067518 DOI: 10.1038/srep35594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-wavelength lasers have great potential to become a new-generation drive laser for tabletop coherent light sources in the soft X-ray region. Because of the significantly low conversion efficiency from a long-wavelength light field to high-order harmonics, their pulse characterization has been carried out by measuring the carrier-envelope phase and/or spatial dependences of high harmonic spectra. However, these photon detection schemes, in general, have difficulty in obtaining information on the spectral phases, which is crucial to determine the temporal structures of high-order harmonics. Here, we report the first attosecond streaking measurement of high harmonics generated by few-cycle optical pulses at 1.7 μm from a BiB3O6-based optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier. This is also the first demonstration of time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy using high harmonics from a long-wavelength drive laser other than Ti:sapphire lasers, which paves the way towards ultrafast soft X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.
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15
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Ishii N, Kaneshima K, Kitano K, Kanai T, Watanabe S, Itatani J. Carrier-envelope phase-dependent high harmonic generation in the water window using few-cycle infrared pulses. Nat Commun 2015; 5:3331. [PMID: 24535006 PMCID: PMC3929802 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms4331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2013] [Accepted: 01/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
High harmonic generation (HHG) using waveform-controlled, few-cycle pulses from Ti:sapphire lasers has opened emerging researches in strong-field and attosecond physics. However, the maximum photon energy of attosecond pulses via HHG remains limited to the extreme ultraviolet region. Long-wavelength light sources with carrier-envelope phase stabilization are promising to extend the photon energy of attosecond pulses into the soft X-ray region. Here we demonstrate carrier-envelope phase-dependent HHG in the water window using sub-two-cycle optical pulses at 1,600 nm. Experimental and simulated results indicate the confinement of soft X-ray emission in a single recombination event with a bandwidth of 75 eV around the carbon K edge. Control of high harmonics by the waveform of few-cycle infrared pulses is a key milestone to generate soft X-ray attosecond pulses. We measure a dependence of half-cycle bursts on the gas pressure, which indicates subcycle deformation of the waveform of the infrared drive pulses in the HHG process. The higher-harmonic generation of laser pulses is used to achieve short-wavelength attosecond pulses for ultrashort experiments, but has been limited in the achievable energy. Here, Ishii et al. develop a scheme to break this barrier and to achieve photon energies higher than the carbon K edge of about 284 eV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuhisa Ishii
- The Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8581, Japan
| | - Keisuke Kaneshima
- The Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8581, Japan
| | - Kenta Kitano
- The Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8581, Japan
| | - Teruto Kanai
- The Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8581, Japan
| | - Shuntaro Watanabe
- Research Institute for Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Science, 2641 Yamasaki, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
| | - Jiro Itatani
- The Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8581, Japan
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16
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Wan P, Yang LM, Bai S, Liu J. High energy 3 µm ultrafast pulsed fiber laser. OPTICS EXPRESS 2015; 23:9527-9532. [PMID: 25968780 DOI: 10.1364/oe.23.009527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
In the paper, a 3 µm mid-infrared (MIR) high energy ultrafast Er:ZBLAN fiber laser and amplification system is presented. The 3µm seed pulses were generated through an Yb-doped ultrafast fiber laser pumped optical parametric amplification (OPA). A pulse energy of 12.4 µJ is generated at a repetition rate of 100 kHz with a pulse duration of 103 fs. A Er:ZBLAN fiber amplifier was used to further boost the chirped pulse energy to 84 µJ.
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17
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Baudisch M, Hemmer M, Pires H, Biegert J. Performance of MgO:PPLN, KTA, and KNbO₃ for mid-wave infrared broadband parametric amplification at high average power. OPTICS LETTERS 2014; 39:5802-5. [PMID: 25361089 DOI: 10.1364/ol.39.005802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The performance of potassium niobate (KNbO₃), MgO-doped periodically poled lithium niobate (MgO:PPLN), and potassium titanyl arsenate (KTA) were experimentally compared for broadband mid-wave infrared parametric amplification at a high repetition rate. The seed pulses, with an energy of 6.5 μJ, were amplified using 410 μJ pump energy at 1064 nm to a maximum pulse energy of 28.9 μJ at 3 μm wavelength and at a 160 kHz repetition rate in MgO:PPLN while supporting a transform limited duration of 73 fs. The high average powers of the interacting beams used in this study revealed average power-induced processes that limit the scaling of optical parametric amplification in MgO:PPLN; the pump peak intensity was limited to 3.8 GW/cm² due to nonpermanent beam reshaping, whereas in KNbO₃ an absorption-induced temperature gradient in the crystal led to permanent internal distortions in the crystal structure when operated above a pump peak intensity of 14.4 GW/cm².
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18
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Mayer BW, Phillips CR, Gallmann L, Keller U. Mid-infrared pulse generation via achromatic quasi-phase-matched OPCPA. OPTICS EXPRESS 2014; 22:20798-20808. [PMID: 25321283 DOI: 10.1364/oe.22.020798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate a new regime for mid-infrared optical parametric chirped- pulse amplification (OPCPA) based on achromatic quasi-phase-matching. Our mid-infrared OPCPA system is based on collinear aperiodically poled lithium niobate (APPLN) pre-amplifiers and a non-collinear PPLN power amplifier which is operated in an achromatic phase-matching configuration. The idler output has a bandwidth of 800 nm centered at 3.4 µm. After compression, we obtain a pulse duration of 44.2 fs and a pulse energy of 21.8 µJ at a repetition rate of 50 kHz. We explain the wide applicability of the non-collinear QPM amplification scheme we used, including how it could enable octave-spanning OPCPA in a single device when combined with an aperiodic QPM grating.
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19
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Guo S, Ling W, Teng H, Zhang W, Wang L, Wei Z. Carrier-envelope phase passively stabilized near-infrared laser pulses from a dual-frequency pumped noncollinear optical parametric amplifier. CHINESE SCIENCE BULLETIN-CHINESE 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s11434-014-0146-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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20
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Xu G, Wandel SF, Jovanovic I. Nondegenerate parametric generation of 2.2-mJ, few-cycle 2.05-μm pulses using a mixed phase matching scheme. THE REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS 2014; 85:023102. [PMID: 24593344 DOI: 10.1063/1.4865132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
We describe the production of 2.2-mJ, ∼6 optical-cycle-long mid-infrared laser pulses with a carrier wavelength of 2.05 μm in a two-stage β-BaB2O4 nondegenerate optical parametric amplifier design with a mixed phase matching scheme, which is pumped by a standard Ti:sapphire chirped-pulse amplification system. It is demonstrated that relatively high pulse energies, short pulse durations, high stability, and excellent beam profiles can be obtained using this simple approach, even without the use of optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guibao Xu
- Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Scott F Wandel
- Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
| | - Igor Jovanovic
- Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
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21
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Suchowski H, Krogen PR, Huang SW, Kärtner FX, Moses J. Octave-spanning coherent mid-IR generation via adiabatic difference frequency conversion. OPTICS EXPRESS 2013; 21:28892-28901. [PMID: 24514403 DOI: 10.1364/oe.21.028892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate efficient downconversion of a near-IR broadband optical parametric chirped pulse amplifier (OPCPA) pulse to a 1.1-octave-spanning mid-IR pulse (measured at -10 dB of peak) via a single nonlinearly and adiabatically chirped quasi-phase-matching grating in magnesium oxide doped lithium niobate. We report a spectrum spanning from 2 to 5 μm and obtained by near full photon number conversion of μJ-energy OPCPA pulses spanning 680-870 nm mixed with a narrowband 1047-nm pulse. The conversion process is shown to be robust for various input broadband OPA pulses and suitable for post-amplification conversion for many near-IR systems.
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22
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Mayer BW, Phillips CR, Gallmann L, Fejer MM, Keller U. Sub-four-cycle laser pulses directly from a high-repetition-rate optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier at 3.4 μm. OPTICS LETTERS 2013; 38:4265-4268. [PMID: 24177069 DOI: 10.1364/ol.38.004265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
We generate sub-four-cycle pulses (41.6 fs) with 12 μJ of pulse energy in the mid-infrared spectral range (center wavelength 3.4 μm) from a high-repetition-rate, collinear three-stage optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier (OPCPA) operating at 50 kHz. Apodized aperiodically poled MgO:LiNbO3 crystals with a negative chirp rate are employed as gain media to achieve ultrabroadband phase-matching while minimizing optical parametric generation. The seed pulses are obtained via a 1.56 μm femtosecond fiber laser, which is spectrally broadened in a dispersion-shifted telecom fiber to support 1000 nm bandwidth idler pulses in the mid-infrared.
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23
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Gong C, Jiang J, Li C, Song L, Zeng Z, Zheng Y, Miao J, Ge X, Deng Y, Li R, Xu Z. Observation of CEP effect via filamentation in transparent solids. OPTICS EXPRESS 2013; 21:24120-24128. [PMID: 24104322 DOI: 10.1364/oe.21.024120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
We report on the first direct observation of carrier-envelope-phase (CEP) effect during the interaction between few-cycle laser pulses and bulk solid materials. Using 2-cycle mid-infrared laser pulses with stabilized CEP, the CEP effect of tunneling ionization during the laser filamentation in a fused silica is revealed. The phase variation of the accompanying supercontinuum (SC) emission with filamentation at different CEPs of laser pulses can be measured by means of spectral interference technique, as a direct manifestation of the strong field tunneling ionization dynamics in transparent solids.
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24
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Phillips CR, Gallmann L, Fejer MM. Design of quasi-phasematching gratings via convex optimization. OPTICS EXPRESS 2013; 21:10139-10159. [PMID: 23609719 DOI: 10.1364/oe.21.010139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
We propose a new approach to quasi-phasematching (QPM) design based on convex optimization. We show that with this approach, globally optimum solutions to several important QPM design problems can be determined. The optimization framework is highly versatile, enabling the user to trade-off different objectives and constraints according to the particular application. The convex problems presented consist of simple objective and constraint functions involving a few thousand variables, and can therefore be solved quite straightforwardly. We consider three examples: (1) synthesis of a target pulse profile via difference frequency generation (DFG) from two ultrashort input pulses, (2) the design of a custom DFG transfer function, and (3) a new approach enabling the suppression of spectral gain narrowing in chirped-QPM-based optical parametric chirped pulse amplification (OPCPA). These examples illustrate the power and versatility of convex optimization in the context of QPM devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- C R Phillips
- Edward L. Ginzton Laboratory, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305,USA.
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25
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Hong Z, Zhang Q, Lu P. Compact dual-crystal optical parametric amplification for broadband IR pulse generation using a collinear geometry. OPTICS EXPRESS 2013; 21:9491-9504. [PMID: 23609660 DOI: 10.1364/oe.21.009491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
A novel compact dual-crystal optical parametric amplification (DOPA) scheme, collinearly pumped by a Ti:sapphire laser (0.8 μm), is theoretically investigated for efficiently generating broadband IR pulses at non-degenerate wavelengths (1.2 μm~1.4 μm and 1.8 μm~2.1 μm). By inserting a pair of barium fluoride (BaF(2)) wedges between two thin β-barium borate (BBO) crystals, the group velocity mismatch (GVM) between the three interacting pulses can be compensated simultaneously. In this case, the obtained signal spectrum centered at 1.3 μm is nearly 20% broader and the conversion efficiency is increased, but also the pulse contrast and beam quality are improved due to the better temporal overlap. Furthermore, sub-two-cycle idler pulses with carrier-envelope phase (CEP) fluctuation of sub-100-mrad root mean square (RMS) can be generated. Because a tunable few-cycle IR pulse with millijoule energy is attainable in this scheme, it will contribute to ultrafast community and be particularly useful as a driving or controlling field for the generation of ultrafast coherent x-ray supercontinuum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuofei Hong
- Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics and School of Physics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
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26
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Generation of Phase-Stable Sub-Cycle Mid-Infrared Pulses from Filamentation in Nitrogen. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2013. [DOI: 10.3390/app3010122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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27
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Eilenberger F, Kabakova IV, de Sterke CM, Eggleton BJ, Pertsch T. Cavity Optical Pulse Extraction: ultra-short pulse generation as seeded Hawking radiation. Sci Rep 2013; 3:2607. [PMID: 24060831 PMCID: PMC3781402 DOI: 10.1038/srep02607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2013] [Accepted: 08/05/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
We show that light trapped in an optical cavity can be extracted from that cavity in an ultrashort burst by means of a trigger pulse. We find a simple analytic description of this process and show that while the extracted pulse inherits its pulse length from that of the trigger pulse, its wavelength can be completely different. Cavity Optical Pulse Extraction is thus well suited for the development of ultrashort laser sources in new wavelength ranges. We discuss similarities between this process and the generation of Hawking radiation at the optical analogue of an event horizon with extremely high Hawking temperature. Our analytic predictions are confirmed by thorough numerical simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Falk Eilenberger
- Institute of Applied Physics, Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Max-Wien-Platz 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Irina V. Kabakova
- ARC Center for Ultrahigh-bandwidth Devices for Optical Systems (CUDOS), Institute of Photonics and Optical Sciences (IPOS), School of Physics, University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - C. Martijn de Sterke
- ARC Center for Ultrahigh-bandwidth Devices for Optical Systems (CUDOS), Institute of Photonics and Optical Sciences (IPOS), School of Physics, University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Benjamin J. Eggleton
- ARC Center for Ultrahigh-bandwidth Devices for Optical Systems (CUDOS), Institute of Photonics and Optical Sciences (IPOS), School of Physics, University of Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Thomas Pertsch
- Institute of Applied Physics, Abbe Center of Photonics, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Max-Wien-Platz 1, 07743 Jena, Germany
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28
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Nomura Y, Fuji T, Shirai H, Tsurumachi N, Voronin AA, Zheltikov AM. Generation of phase-stable half-cycle mid-infrared pulses through filamentation in gases. EPJ WEB OF CONFERENCES 2013. [DOI: 10.1051/epjconf/20134111003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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29
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Darginavičius J, Garejev N, Dubietis A. Generation of carrier-envelope phase-stable two optical-cycle pulses at 2 μm from a noncollinear beta-barium borate optical parametric amplifier. OPTICS LETTERS 2012; 37:4805-4807. [PMID: 23164920 DOI: 10.1364/ol.37.004805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
We report on the generation of two optical-cycle, carrier-envelope phase-stable pulses with energy of 15 μJ at central wavelength of 2 μm. Pulses of 15 fs (2.3 optical cycles) duration are obtained by difference-frequency generation, which at the same time provides passive carrier-envelope phase stabilization, and noncollinear optical parametric amplification in beta-barium borate crystal, which is shown to provide broad phase-matching bandwidth if seeded by pulses in the 1.6-2.6 μm wavelength range. Pulse compression is achieved by means of a simple propagation through the optical setup and by precisely controlling the initial chirp of the pulses to be frequency downconverted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julius Darginavičius
- Department of Quantum Electronics, Vilnius University, Saulėtekio Ave. 9, Building 3, Vilnius LT-10222, Lithuania.
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30
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Ishii N, Kaneshima K, Kitano K, Kanai T, Watanabe S, Itatani J. Sub-two-cycle, carrier-envelope phase-stable, intense optical pulses at 1.6 μm from a BiB3O6 optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier. OPTICS LETTERS 2012; 37:4182-4. [PMID: 23073404 DOI: 10.1364/ol.37.004182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
We report on the generation of 9.0 fs, 550 μJ, carrier-envelope phase (CEP)-stabilized optical pulses around 1.6 μm at 1 kHz. Few-cycle IR pulses are obtained from a BiB(3)O(6) optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier. The amplification of nearly octave-spanning ultrabroad pulses without spectral broadening results in good stability in output energy (0.85% rms) and CEP (160 mrad rms). We observed high harmonics in the water window from a neon cell that corresponds to a laser intensity of 4.1×10(14) W/cm(2).
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Affiliation(s)
- N Ishii
- Institute for Solid State Physics, University of Tokyo, Kashiwanoha 5-1-5, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8581, Japan. ‑tokyo.ac.jp
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31
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Huang SW, Moses J, Kärtner FX. Broadband noncollinear optical parametric amplification without angularly dispersed idler. OPTICS LETTERS 2012; 37:2796-2798. [PMID: 22825137 DOI: 10.1364/ol.37.002796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
We report a new scheme for direct generation of broadband angular-dispersion-free mid-IR idler pulses via noncollinear optical parametric amplification when group-velocity matched wavelengths cannot be found and the traditional noncollinear geometry fails to increase the phase-matching bandwidth. The scheme does not require any post-amplification idler angular dispersion compensation. We derive and interpret the condition for broadband amplification and absence of idler angular dispersion. A broadband angular-dispersion-free 2.15 μm idler pulse is generated as an experimental demonstration. We identify the potential of the scheme to generate a broadband 3.5 μm idler, with a bandwidth supporting a sub-two-cycle pulse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Wei Huang
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
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32
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Moses J, Suchowski H, Kärtner FX. Fully efficient adiabatic frequency conversion of broadband Ti:sapphire oscillator pulses. OPTICS LETTERS 2012; 37:1589-1591. [PMID: 22555747 DOI: 10.1364/ol.37.001589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
By adiabatic difference-frequency generation in an aperiodically poled nonlinear crystal-a nonlinear optical analog of rapid adiabatic passage in a two-level atomic system-we demonstrate the conversion of a 110 nm band from an octave-spanning Ti:sapphire oscillator to the infrared, spanning 1550 to 2450 nm, with near-100% internal conversion efficiency. The experiment proves the principle of complete Landau-Zener adiabatic transfer in nonlinear optical wave mixing. Our implementation is a practical approach to the seeding of high-energy ultrabroadband optical parametric chirped pulse amplifiers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Moses
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
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33
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Ma J, Xie GQ, Gao WL, Yuan P, Qian LJ, Yu HH, Zhang HJ, Wang JY. Diode-pumped mode-locked femtosecond Tm:CLNGG disordered crystal laser. OPTICS LETTERS 2012; 37:1376-1378. [PMID: 22513691 DOI: 10.1364/ol.37.001376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
A diode-end-pumped passively mode-locked femtosecond Tm-doped calcium lithium niobium gallium garnet (Tm:CLNGG) disordered crystal laser was demonstrated for the first time to our knowledge. With a 790 nm laser diode pumping, stable CW mode-locking operation was obtained by using a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror. The disordered crystal laser generated mode-locked pulses as short as 479 fs, with an average output power of 288 mW, and repetition rate of 99 MHz in 2 μm spectral region.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Ma
- Department of Physics, Key Laboratory for Laser Plasmas (Ministry of Education), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
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34
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Hong KH, Huang SW, Moses J, Fu X, Lai CJ, Cirmi G, Sell A, Granados E, Keathley P, Kärtner FX. High-energy, phase-stable, ultrabroadband kHz OPCPA at 2.1 μm pumped by a picosecond cryogenic Yb:YAG laser. OPTICS EXPRESS 2011; 19:15538-48. [PMID: 21934917 DOI: 10.1364/oe.19.015538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
We report on a kHz, mJ-level, carrier-envelope phase (CEP)-stable ultrabroadband optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier (OPCPA) at 2.1-μm wavelength, pumped by a high-energy, 14 ps, cryogenic Yb:YAG pump laser, and its application to high-order harmonic generation (HHG) with Xe. The pre-amplifier chain is pumped by a 12-ps Nd:YLF pump laser and both pump lasers are optically synchronized to the signal pulse of the OPCPA. An amplified pulse energy of 0.85 mJ was obtained at the final OPCPA stage with good beam profile. The pulse is compressed to 4.5 optical cycles (<32 fs) with a spectral bandwidth of 474 nm supporting 3.5 optical cycles. The CEP stability was measured to be 194 mrad and the super-fluorescence noise is estimated to be ~9%. First HHG results are demonstrated with Xe showing significant cutoff extension to >85 eV with an efficiency of ~10-10 per harmonic, limited by the maximum gas pressure and flow into the chamber. This demonstrates the potential of this 2.1-μm source for scaling of photon energy and flux in the water-window range when applied to Ne and He at kHz repetition rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung-Han Hong
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
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35
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Yu H, Pan Z, Zhang H, Wang Z, Wang J, Jiang M. Efficient Tm:LuVO₄ laser at 1.9 μm. OPTICS LETTERS 2011; 36:2402-2404. [PMID: 21725425 DOI: 10.1364/ol.36.002402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
We report an efficient laser-diode-pumped Tm-doped LuVO₄ crystal laser at about 1.9 μm. For the first time to our knowledge, the π-polarized Tm:LuVO₄ laser was achieved. The maximum output power and slope efficiency were 1.32 W and 28.7%, respectively. By comparison, it has been found that the a-cut Tm:LuVO₄ crystal should be more suitable for applications in high-power lasers. The central laser wavelength was observed to be located at about 1.9 μm and shifted to shorter with the increase of intracavity light intensity, which could be explained based on the reabsorption of light in the Tm:LuVO₄ crystal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haohai Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Crystal Materials and Institute of Crystal Materials, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, China
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36
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Zhang Q, Takahashi EJ, Mücke OD, Lu P, Midorikawa K. Dual-chirped optical parametric amplification for generating few hundred mJ infrared pulses. OPTICS EXPRESS 2011; 19:7190-7212. [PMID: 21503032 DOI: 10.1364/oe.19.007190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
An ultrafast high-power infrared pulse source employing a dual-chirped optical parametric amplification (DC-OPA) scheme based on a Ti:sapphire pump laser system is theoretically investigated. By chirping both pump and seed pulses in an optimized way, high-energy pump pulses can be utilized for a DC-OPA process without exceeding the damage threshold of BBO crystals, and broadband signal and idler pulses at 1.4 μm and 1.87 μm can be generated with a total conversion efficiency approaching 40%. Furthermore, few-cycle idler pulses with a passively stabilized carrier-envelope phase (CEP) can be generated by the difference frequency generation process in a collinear configuration. DC-OPA, a BBO-OPA scheme pumped by a Ti:sapphire laser, is efficient and scalable in output energy of the infrared pulses, which provides us with the design parameters of an ultrafast infrared laser system with an energy up to a few hundred mJ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingbin Zhang
- Extreme Photonics Research Group, RIKEN Advanced Science Institute, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
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37
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Schmidt BE, Shiner AD, Lassonde P, Kieffer JC, Corkum PB, Villeneuve DM, Légaré F. CEP stable 1.6 cycle laser pulses at 1.8 μm. OPTICS EXPRESS 2011; 19:6858-6864. [PMID: 21451713 DOI: 10.1364/oe.19.006858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
By using the novel approach for pulse compression that combines spectral broadening in hollow-core fiber (HCF) with linear propagation in fused silica (FS), we generate 1.6 cycle 0.24 mJ laser pulses at 1.8 μm wavelength with a repetition rate of 1 kHz. These pulses are obtained with a white light seeded optical parametric amplifier (OPA) and shown to be passively carrier envelope phase (CEP) stable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno E Schmidt
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre Energie Matériaux et Télécommunications, Varennes, QC, Canada.
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38
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Krauss G, Fehrenbacher D, Brida D, Riek C, Sell A, Huber R, Leitenstorfer A. All-passive phase locking of a compact Er:fiber laser system. OPTICS LETTERS 2011; 36:540-542. [PMID: 21326449 DOI: 10.1364/ol.36.000540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
A passively phase-locked laser source based on compact femtosecond Er:fiber technology is introduced. The carrier-envelope offset frequency is set to zero via difference frequency generation between a soliton at a wavelength of 2 μm and a dispersive wave at 860 nm generated in the same highly nonlinear fiber. This process results in a broadband output centered at 1.55 μm. Subsequently, the 40 MHz pulse train seeds a second Er:fiber amplifier, which boosts the pulse energy up to 8 nJ at a duration of 125 fs. Excellent phase stability is demonstrated via f-to-2f spectral interferometry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Günther Krauss
- Department of Physics, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
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39
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Hong KH, Gopinath JT, Rand D, Siddiqui AM, Huang SW, Li E, Eggleton BJ, Hybl JD, Fan TY, Kärtner FX. High-energy, kHz-repetition-rate, ps cryogenic Yb:YAG chirped-pulse amplifier. OPTICS LETTERS 2010; 35:1752-1754. [PMID: 20517404 DOI: 10.1364/ol.35.001752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate amplification of picosecond laser pulses to 40?mJ at a 2?kHz pulse repetition frequency (PRF) from a two-stage cryogenic chirped-pulse Yb:YAG amplifier, composed of a regenerative amplifier (RGA) and a two-pass booster amplifier. The RGA produces 8.2mJ of energy at 2kHz PRF and 13.2mJ at 1kHz PRF with excellent energy stability (approximately 0.3% rms) and beam quality (M(2)<1.1). Pulse stretching and compression are achieved by using a chirped fiber Bragg grating and a multilayer dielectric grating pair, respectively. Compressed 15?ps pulses from the RGA are obtained with a throughput efficiency of approximately 80% (approximately 6.5 mJ for 2kHz). The booster amplifier further amplifies the pulses to 40mJ at 2kHz PRF, and approximately 32 mJ, approximately 15 ps pulses are expected after compression. The amplifier chain seeded from a femtosecond Yb-fiber laser enables the optical self-synchronization between signal and pump in optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung-Han Hong
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Research Laboratory of Electronics,Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
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40
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Bates PK, Chalus O, Biegert J. Ultrashort pulse characterization in the mid-infrared. OPTICS LETTERS 2010; 35:1377-1379. [PMID: 20436575 DOI: 10.1364/ol.35.001377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
We describe a second-harmonic-generation frequency-resolved optical gating measurement device optimized for the characterization of few-cycle pulses in the mid-IR spectral range. The system has a temporal range of 100 ps with resolution of 0.12 fs, and it is capable of measuring pulses as short as 1.5 cycles (15 fs) at 3 microm. Through interchangeable beam splitters and detectors it covers a wavelength range from 800 nm to 5 microm with up to 0.5 cm(-1) resolution. We demonstrate measurement of a richly featured 3.2 microm pulse with 9.6 cycle duration, recovering the main pulse of 96 fs, as well as low-intensity post-pulses with picosecond offset. We also characterize a 100 fs pulse after dispersion through a 1 cm sapphire plate, comparing the measured phase difference with the calculated one.
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Affiliation(s)
- P K Bates
- ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, Mediterranean Technology Park, 08860 Castelldefels (Barcelona), Spain.
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41
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Hong KH, Lai CJ, Siddiqui A, Kärtner FX. 130-W picosecond green laser based on a frequency-doubled hybrid cryogenic Yb:YAG amplifier. OPTICS EXPRESS 2009; 17:16911-16919. [PMID: 19770908 DOI: 10.1364/oe.17.016911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
130-W average-power picosecond green laser pulses at 514.5 nm are generated from a frequency-doubled hybrid cryogenic Yb:YAG laser. A second-harmonic conversion efficiency of 54% is achieved with a 15-mm-long noncritically phase-matched lithium triborate (LBO) crystal from a 240-W 8-ps 78-MHz pulse train at 1029 nm. The high-average-power hybrid laser system consists of a picosecond fiber chirped-pulse amplification seed source and a cryogenically-cooled double-pass Yb:YAG amplifier. The M(2) value of 2.7, measured at 77 W of second-harmonic power, demonstrates a good focusing quality. A thermal analysis shows that the longitudinal temperature gradient can be the main limiting factor in the second-harmonic efficiency. To our best knowledge, this is the highest-average-power green laser source generating picosecond pulses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung-Han Hong
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
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42
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Moses J, Huang SW, Hong KH, Mücke OD, Falcão-Filho EL, Benedick A, Ilday FO, Dergachev A, Bolger JA, Eggleton BJ, Kärtner FX. Highly stable ultrabroadband mid-IR optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier optimized for superfluorescence suppression. OPTICS LETTERS 2009; 34:1639-1641. [PMID: 19488133 DOI: 10.1364/ol.34.001639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
We present a 9 GW peak power, three-cycle, 2.2 microm optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification source with 1.5% rms energy and 150 mrad carrier envelope phase fluctuations. These characteristics, in addition to excellent beam, wavefront, and pulse quality, make the source suitable for long-wavelength-driven high-harmonic generation. High stability is achieved by careful optimization of superfluorescence suppression, enabling energy scaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Moses
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
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43
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Moses J, Manzoni C, Huang SW, Cerullo G, Kärtner FX. Temporal optimization of ultrabroadband high-energy OPCPA. OPTICS EXPRESS 2009; 17:5540-5555. [PMID: 19333322 DOI: 10.1364/oe.17.005540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
We present general guidelines for the design of ultrabroadband, high-energy optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifiers, where maximization of both conversion efficiency and bandwidth and simultaneous suppression of superfluorescence is required. Using a semi-analytical approach together with numerical simulations, we find that the ratio of pump and seed pulse durations is a critical parameter in temporal optimization, and its optimum depends on the amplifier gain. Multi-stage amplifier design thus requires independent optimization of seed chirp at each amplification stage. We find that a small compromise in amplifier bandwidth relative to the full phase-matching bandwidth, through use of the appropriate seed chirp, both maximizes the efficiency-bandwidth product and optimizes the signal-to-noise ratio. On the other hand, maximization of signal bandwidth is found to significantly degrade both the signal-to-noise ratio and the conversion efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Moses
- 1Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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Chalus O, Bates PK, Smolarski M, Biegert J. Mid-IR short-pulse OPCPA with micro-Joule energy at 100kHz. OPTICS EXPRESS 2009; 17:3587-3594. [PMID: 19259198 DOI: 10.1364/oe.17.003587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
We present a novel mid-IR source based on optical parametric chirped pulse amplification (OPCPA) generating 96 fs pulses (9.0 cycles) at 3.2 mm with an energy of 1.2 microJ, at a repetition rate of 100 kHz. The amplified spectrum supports a minimum Fourier transform limited pulse duration of 45 fs, or 4.2 cycles. Our use of OPCPA allows the direct amplification of few-cycle pulses at this mid-IR wavelength, and is inherently scalable to higher energies. The seed source for the system is based on difference frequency generation (DFG) between two outputs of the same fibre laser: this source is expected to be intrinsically CEP stable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Chalus
- ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, Mediterranean Technology Park, 08860 Castelldefels (Barcelona), Spain.
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Gu X, Marcus G, Deng Y, Metzger T, Teisset C, Ishii N, Fuji T, Baltuska A, Butkus R, Pervak V, Ishizuki H, Taira T, Kobayashi T, Kienberger R, Krausz F. Generation of carrier-envelope-phase-stable 2-cycle 740-microJ pulses at 2.1-microm carrier wavelength. OPTICS EXPRESS 2009; 17:62-69. [PMID: 19129873 DOI: 10.1364/oe.17.000062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
We produce carrier-envelope-phase-stable 15.7-fs (2-cycle) 740-microJ pulses at the 2.1-microm carrier wavelength, from a three-stage optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier system, pumped by an optically synchronized 49-ps 11-mJ Nd:YLF laser. A novel seed pulse spectral shaping method is used to ascertain the true amplified seed energy and the parametric superfluorescence levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xun Gu
- Max-Planck-Institute of Quantum Optics, Garching, Germany.
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Chalus O, Bates PK, Biegert J. Design and simulation of few-cycle optical parametric chirped pulse amplification at mid-IR wavelengths. OPTICS EXPRESS 2008; 16:21297-21304. [PMID: 19104559 DOI: 10.1364/oe.16.021297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
We present a design for a novel carrier to envelope phase stable optical parametric chirped pulse amplification source in the mid-infrared. We calculate the amplification of a 3.1 microm seed pulse, generated via DFG from a two-colour fibre laser, using a fully three dimensional OPCPA code. We combine this with a ray-tracing code to model pulse compression using a grating compressor and a deformable mirror for programmable phase compensation. The simulation models the complete system based on FROG measurements of the commercially available fibre laser, ensuring the simulation is realistic. The obtained results indicate energetic pulses of 56 fs duration, corresponding to 5.2 cycles, can be produced with calculated pulse energies of up to 9.6 microJ at a central wavelength of 3.3 microm.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Chalus
- ICFO-Institut de Cienciès Fotíoniques, Mediterranean Technology Park, 08860 Castelldefels, Barcelona, Spain
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Légaré F, Naji M, Lassonde P, Comtois D, Crozatier V, Oksenhendler T, Anis H, Kieffer JC. Pulse compression and shaping of broadband optical parametric amplifier laser source. OPTICS LETTERS 2008; 33:2824-2826. [PMID: 19037439 DOI: 10.1364/ol.33.002824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
We report pulse compression and shaping of a 100 Hz broadband optical parametric amplifier (OPA) laser source generated by self-phase modulation in a hollow-core fiber. The amplitude and phase of the broadband OPA laser pulses are controlled using an acousto optic programmable dispersive filter (AOPDF). Using the AOPDF, we demonstrate compression, characterization, and amplitude/phase control of 1300 nm 20 fs laser pulses with energies up to 10 microJ. This novel source is suitable for seeding successive OPA amplification stages and for time-resolved spectroscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Légaré
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre Energie Matériaux et Télécommunications, 1650 Boulevard Lionel-Boulet, Varennes, QC J3X1S2, Canada.
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Hong KH, Siddiqui A, Moses J, Gopinath J, Hybl J, Ilday FO, Fan TY, Kärtner FX. Generation of 287 W, 5.5 ps pulses at 78 MHz repetition rate from a cryogenically cooled Yb:YAG amplifier seeded by a fiber chirped-pulse amplification system. OPTICS LETTERS 2008; 33:2473-2475. [PMID: 18978891 DOI: 10.1364/ol.33.002473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
We generate linearly polarized, 287 W average-power, 5.5 ps pulses using a cryogenically cooled Yb:YAG amplifier at a repetition rate of 78 MHz. An optical-to-optical efficiency of 41% is obtained at 700 W pump power. A 6 W, 0.4 nm bandwidth picosecond seed source at 1029 nm wavelength is constructed using a chirped-pulse fiber amplification chain based on chirped volume Bragg gratings. The combination of a fiber amplifier system and a cryogenically cooled Yb:YAG amplifier results in good spatial beam quality at large average power. Low nonlinear phase accumulation as small as 5.1 x 10(-3) rad in the bulk Yb:YAG amplifier supports power scalability to a > 10 kW level without being affected by self-phase modulation. This amplification system is well suited for pumping high-power high-repetition-rate optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifiers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung-Han Hong
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
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Rausch S, Binhammer T, Harth A, Kärtner FX, Morgner U. Few-cycle femtosecond field synthesizer. OPTICS EXPRESS 2008; 16:17410-17419. [PMID: 18958023 DOI: 10.1364/oe.16.017410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
We report on an optical field synthesizer consisting of a CEO-phase stabilized octave-spanning Ti:sapphire laser oscillator, a double-LCD prism-based pulse shaper, and a SPIDER pulse characterization apparatus. This field synthesizer allows for generating pulses with durations as short as 3.6 fs and enables to control the electric field on a sub-cycle scale. Within the limits of the ultrabroad spectrum arbitrary spectral and temporal pulse shapes and pulse sequences can be realized. Together with the ability to stabilize the pulses with respect to their CEO-phase, this system forms a versatile tool for coherent control experiments of field sensitive processes and precision spectroscopy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Rausch
- Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz Universität Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
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Adachi S, Ishii N, Kanai T, Kosuge A, Itatani J, Kobayashi Y, Yoshitomi D, Torizuka K, Watanabe S. 5-fs, Multi-mJ, CEP-locked parametric chirped-pulse amplifier pumped by a 450-nm source at 1 kHz. OPTICS EXPRESS 2008; 16:14341-14352. [PMID: 18794970 DOI: 10.1364/oe.16.014341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
We report on the development of an optical parametric chirpedpulse amplifier at a 1-kHz repetition rate with a 5.5-fs pulse duration, a 2.7-mJ pulse energy and carrier-envelope phase-control. The amplifier is pumped by a 450-nm pulse from a frequency-doubled Ti:sapphire laser.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Adachi
- Institute for Solid State Physics, University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8581, Japan.
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