Few-cycle short-wave-infrared light source for strong-field experiments at 200 kHz repetition rate

Area of Science:

• Laser Physics
• Nonlinear Optics
• Ultrafast Science

Background:

• Development of compact and efficient ultrafast laser sources is crucial for advancing strong-field physics.
• Carrier-envelope phase (CEP) stability is essential for precise control in strong-field interactions.
• Short-wave infrared (SWIR) light sources offer unique advantages for probing matter.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a compact, few-cycle, CEP-stable SWIR light source.
• To characterize the generated pulses and assess CEP stability.
• To demonstrate the system's capability for driving strong-field experiments.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an ytterbium fiber amplifier for initial seeding.
• Employed white-light generation and difference frequency generation for seed production.
• Amplified the seed pulses in BiBO nonlinear crystals.
• Measured pulse duration using the dispersion scan technique.
• Assessed CEP stability with a monolithic spectral interferometry scheme.

Main Results:

• Generated pulses with 13 µJ energy around 2 µm wavelength at a 200 kHz repetition rate.
• Achieved a pulse duration of 15.8 fs.
• Demonstrated carrier-envelope phase (CEP) stability.
• Successfully performed high-order harmonic generation in argon gas.

Conclusions:

• The developed SWIR laser system is a compact and powerful tool for ultrafast science.
• The system's CEP stability and high pulse energy make it suitable for demanding strong-field applications.
• This work paves the way for new investigations in attosecond science and nonlinear phenomena.