µJ-level multi-cycle terahertz generation in a periodically poled Rb:KTP crystal.

We demonstrate multi-cycle terahertz (MC-THz) generation in a 15.5 mm long periodically poled rubidium (Rb)-doped potassium titanyl phosphate (Rb:PPKTP) crystal with a poling period of 300 µm. By cryogenically cooling the crystal to 77 K, up to 0.72 µJ terahertz energy is obtained at a frequency of 0.5 THz with a 3 GHz bandwidth. A maximum internal optical-to-terahertz conversion efficiency of 0.16% is achieved, which is comparable with results achieved using periodically poled lithium niobate crystal. Neither photorefractive effects nor damage was observed with up to 900mJ/cm2, showing the great potential of Rb:PPKTP for multi-millijoule-level MC-THz generation.

Optical generation of single-cycle 10 MW peak power 100 GHz waves.

We demonstrate the generation of 100 GHz single-cycle pulses with up to 10 MW of peak power using optical rectification and broadband phase matching via the tilted pulse front (TPF) technique in lithium niobate. The optical driver is a cryogenically cooled Yb:YAG amplifier providing tens of mJ energy, ~5 ps long laser pulses. We obtain a high THz pulse energy up to 65 µJ with 31.6 MV/m peak electric field when focused close to its diffraction limit of 2.5 mm diameter. A high optical-to-THz energy conversion efficiency of 0.3% at 85 K is measured in agreement with numerical simulations. This source is of great interest for a broad range of applications, such as nonlinear THz field-matter interaction and charged particle acceleration for ultrafast electron diffraction and table-top X-ray sources.

Cascaded parametric amplification for highly efficient terahertz generation.

A highly efficient, practical approach to high-energy multi-cycle terahertz (THz) generation based on spectrally cascaded optical parametric amplification (THz-COPA) is introduced. Feasible designs are presented that enable the THz wave, initially generated by difference frequency generation between a narrowband optical pump and optical seed (0.1-10% of pump energy), to self-start a cascaded (or repeated) energy downconversion of pump photons in a single pass through a single crystal. In cryogenically cooled, periodically poled lithium niobate, unprecedented energy conversion efficiencies >8% achievable with existing pump laser technology are predicted using realistic simulations. The calculations account for cascading effects, absorption, dispersion, and laser-induced damage. Due to the simultaneous, coupled nonlinear evolution of multiple phase-matched three-wave mixing processes, THz-COPA exhibits physics distinctly different from conventional three-wave mixing parametric amplifiers. This, in turn, governs optimal phase-matching conditions, evolution of optical spectra, and limitations of the nonlinear process. Circumventing these limitations is shown to yield conversion efficiencies ≫10%.

Cryogenic Yb:YAG composite-thin-disk for high energy and average power amplifiers.

A cryogenic composite-thin-disk amplifier with amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) rejection is implemented that overcomes traditional laser system problems in high-energy pulsed laser drivers of high average power. A small signal gain of 8 dB was compared to a 1.5 dB gain for an uncapped thin-disk without ASE mitigation under identical pumping conditions. A strict image relayed 12-pass architecture using an off-axis vacuum telescope and polarization switching extracted 100 mJ at 250 Hz in high beam quality stretched 700 ps pulses of 0.6-nm bandwidth.

High-power red, orange, and green Pr³âº:LiYF4 lasers.

Laser experiments with Pr(3+):LiYF4 under excitation with a frequency doubled optically pumped semiconductor laser emitting 5 W at 479 nm were performed at seven different laser wavelengths of 523, 546, 604, 607, 640, 698, and 720 nm. At all these wavelengths the output power exceeded 1 W. The best performance at 523 nm with an output power of 2.9 W at a slope efficiency of 72% and an optical-to-optical efficiency of 67% with respect to the incident pump power represents the highest efficiency ever reported for a praseodymium-doped laser material.

Thin-disk laser operation of Pr³âº,Mg²âº:SrAl12O19.

We present first results in applying the thin-disk concept to lasers directly emitting in the visible spectral range. The pump light was provided by 24 InGaN laser diodes emitting 1 W each at 444 nm, which were coupled into a 200 µm fiber. A 300 µm thin Pr3+,Mg2+:SrAl12O19 crystal served as gain medium. In continuous-wave operation an output power of 0.88 W and a slope efficiency of 12% with respect to the absorbed pump power were achieved at an emission wavelength of 643.5 nm. Modulating the pump source at a duty cycle of 10% yielded an instantaneous output power of 1.67 W, corresponding to a slope efficiency of 26%.

Wide wavelength tunability and green laser operation of diode-pumped Pr3+:KY3F10.

We report on wide spectral tunability of a quasi-continuous wave Pr(3+):KY(3)F(10) laser under InGaN laser diode excitation at 445 nm. The total tuning range exceeded 100 nm in the visible spectral range on several intervals between 521 nm and 737 nm. The broadest continuously tunable region of almost 50 nm extended from 688 nm to 737 nm. Furthermore we present what is to the best of our knowledge the first demonstration of continuous wave laser operation in Pr(3+):KY(3)F(10) on three transitions in the green spectral region. The highest output power of 121 mW was achieved at an emission wavelength of 554 nm with a slope efficiency of 27%.

Crystalline Pr:SrAl12O19 waveguide laser in the visible spectral region.

We fabricated waveguides in Pr:SrAl(12)O(19) crystals by direct femtosecond laser writing. The propagation losses were calculated to be as low as 0.16 dB/cm at a wavelength of 633 nm. Laser oscillation in a diode-pumped waveguide at a wavelength of 643.5 nm was realized. The output power of the waveguide laser was 28.1 mW at a slope efficiency of 8%.