5-fs, multi-mJ, CEP-locked parametric chirped-pulse amplifier pumped by a 450-nm source at 1 kHz

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.

High average power effective pump source at 1 kHz repetition rate for OPCPA system

“…The classic depolarization compensation layout where two identical laser modules are put one after another with polarization rotation and relay imaging between them [13] was not used, because the sidepumped laser modules had quite a low single-pass gain (3)(4)(5), so inversion used for amplification would be very small compared to the total inversion accumulated in the active medium.…”

“…OPCPA systems are usually pumped by fundamental or second harmonic radiation of highpower lasers based on Nd-or Yb-doped laser crystals, namely Nd:YAG, Nd:YLF, or Yb:YAG. Recently OPC-PA systems operating either at repetition rates as high as 1 kHz [4] or at output energies beyond 100 mJ [3] while maintaining the pulse duration of 9-10 fs have been demonstrated. In the optical parametric chirped pulse amplifiers [4,5] a femtosecond master oscillator generates seed pulses, which after stretching are parametrically amplified.…”

“…Recently OPC-PA systems operating either at repetition rates as high as 1 kHz [4] or at output energies beyond 100 mJ [3] while maintaining the pulse duration of 9-10 fs have been demonstrated. In the optical parametric chirped pulse amplifiers [4,5] a femtosecond master oscillator generates seed pulses, which after stretching are parametrically amplified. Pump pulses for the OPCPA are generated in regenerative amplifier (RA)/power amplifier systems based on Nd-doped laser materials.…”

“…Those pulses are further amplified in power amplifiers capable of reaching 10 to 1000 mJ energies sufficient for pumping OPCPA stages. Finally, the parametrically amplified broadband seed pulses are compressed to a few-cycle pulse duration [4,5]. Although the concept of OPCPA is well established, the generation of high energy and high repetition rate pump pulses is still challenging.…”

Development of high-energy fiber CPA system

“…An ultrashort, intense laser system with a peak power TW class can be realized by using a noncollinear optical parametric amplifier (NOPA) [4][5][6][7][8]. As such, we are developing a near-infrared (NIR) few-cycle NOPA system, of which the designed specifications are a 5-fs pulse width and a 30-TW peak power at a 10-Hz repetition rate.…”