High-average-power, few-cycle, 2.1 µm OPCPA laser driver for soft-X-ray high-harmonic generation.

Area of Science:

• Laser physics
• Ultrafast optics
• X-ray generation

Background:

• High-repetition-rate, intense femtosecond pulses in the short-wave infrared are crucial for developing advanced tabletop ultrafast soft-X-ray sources.
• Current limitations in repetition rate hinder the application of these sources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a novel optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification laser system capable of high repetition rates.
• To demonstrate the system's capability for generating ultrashort soft-X-ray pulses.

Main Methods:

• Development of a 2.1 µm central wavelength optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification laser.
• Characterization of amplified signal power, pulse duration, and repetition rate.
• Propagation of the laser beam to a soft-X-ray generation target.
• High-harmonic generation experiments in argon gas.

Main Results:

• The laser system achieved a 20 fs pulse duration and 52 W amplified signal power at a 52.6 kHz repetition rate.
• Excellent spatial and temporal beam profiles were maintained after propagation.
• High-harmonic generation up to approximately 190 eV photon energies was achieved.

Conclusions:

• The developed laser system successfully addresses the need for high-repetition-rate sources for ultrafast soft-X-ray production.
• The system demonstrates significant potential for advancing tabletop ultrafast soft-X-ray applications.
• The ability to generate high-energy photons at high repetition rates opens new avenues for research.