Thin-disk laser-pumped OPCPA system delivering 4.4 TW few-cycle pulses

Area of Science:

• Laser Physics
• Ultrafast Optics
• Nonlinear Optics

Background:

• Optical Parametric Chirped Pulse Amplification (OPCPA) is a key technology for generating high-power ultrafast laser pulses.
• Achieving high energy and precise control over ultrashort pulses remains a significant challenge in laser science.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel OPCPA system optimized for high conversion efficiency and ultrashort pulse duration.
• To demonstrate the generation of high-energy extreme ultraviolet (XUV) pulses using the developed OPCPA system.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a Yb:YAG thin-disk laser system for pumping the OPCPA.
• Optimized the OPCPA setup for high conversion efficiency with sub-10 picosecond pump pulses.
• Employed high-order harmonic generation to produce XUV pulses from the terawatt OPCPA output.

Main Results:

• Delivered 4.4 TW pulses with a duration under 9 fs centered at 810 nm.
• Achieved carrier-envelope phase stability of 350 mrad.
• Generated microjoule-level XUV pulse energies through high-order harmonic generation.

Conclusions:

• The developed OPCPA system provides a robust platform for generating high-power, ultrashort laser pulses.
• The system enables efficient generation of high-energy XUV pulses, opening new avenues for ultrafast science and applications.