Development of high power infrared optical parametric amplification laser system seeded by self-difference frequency generation pulses

Abstract

We report on our recent development of a femtosecond infrared laser system based on self-phase-stabilized seed by difference-frequency generation of supercontinuum obtained with so-called hollow fiber compression technique and two-stage optical parametric amplification. After the final amplifier, we obtained pulses with duration of <40 fs, tunable center wavelength from 1.2 to 1.8 μm, maximum pulse energy of >500 μJ and as a first demonstration of this new laser system, we generated high-harmonics up to 47th order in a tube target filled with Xe gas. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2012.