Utilizing the temporal superresolution approach in an optical parametric synthesizer to generate multi-TW sub-4-fs light pulses

Abstract

The Fourier-transform limit achieved by a linear spectral phase is the typical optimum by the generation of ultrashort light pulses. It provides the highest possible intensity, however, not the shortest full width at half maximum of the pulse duration, which is relevant for many experiments. The approach for achieving shorter pulses than the original Fourier limit is termed temporal superresolution. We demonstrate this approach by shaping the spectral phase of light from an optical parametric chirped pulse amplifier and generate sub-Fourier limited pulses. We also realize it in a simpler way by controlling only the amplitude of the spectrum, producing a shorter Fourier-limited duration. Furthermore, we apply this technique to an optical parametric synthesizer and generate multi-TW sub-4-fs light pulses. This light source is a promising tool for generating intense and isolated attosecond light and electron pulses.

Table-top optical parametric chirped pulse amplifiers: past and present

“…Since few optical cycle OPCPA systems deliver ultrabroadband spectra exceeding an optical octave and allow accurate control of spectral phase, precisely synchronized OPCPA systems readily serve for coherent sub-cycle optical waveform synthesis offering several distinct advantages over other existing methods 235 . In that regard, full phase and amplitude control enables the generation of sub-optical-cycle pulses with a desired electric field profile, or more generally, any optical waveform supported by the amplified spectrum with scalability of average 236,237 and peak 238 powers. These features are of great importance for optimizing the HHG process and achieving high energy isolated attosecond pulses 239 , so opening a route to a completely new regime of light-matter interaction, the so called waveform nonlinear optics.…”