1.2-kW all-fiber Yb-doped multicore fiber amplifier.

We have demonstrated a record-high 1.2 kW, all-fiber multicore amplifier using a six-core single-mode Yb-doped fiber and a multicore pump-signal combiner (PSC). The output power is limited by the pump power of 1.9 kW. We have developed double-clad six-core fibers and PSCs for this demonstration. Each of the six Yb-doped cores has a 17-µm mode-field diameter (MFD) with a trench index profile and is capable of kW-class operation. The potential power scaling to the 10-kW level in a single amplifier with high brightness should be feasible with advanced thermal management and coherent beam combination.

Bandwidth extension and conversion efficiency improvements beyond phase matching limitations using cavity-enhanced OPCPA.

The conversion efficiency and phase matching bandwidth of ultrafast optical parametric amplification (OPA) are constrained by the dispersion and nonlinear coefficient of the employed crystal as well as pulse shaping effects. In our work we show that an enhancement cavity resonant with the pump seeded at the full repetition rate of the pump laser can automatically reshape the small-signal gain in optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification (OPCPA) to achieve close-to-optimal operation. This new method termed cavity-enhanced OPCPA or C-OPCPA significantly increases both the gain bandwidth and the conversion efficiency, in addition to boosting gain for high-repetition-rate amplification. The goal in C-OPCPA is to arrive at a condition of impedance matching at all temporal coordinates, such that, in the absence of linear losses, all the incident pump power is dissipated in the nonlinear loss element, i.e., converted to signal and idler. The use of a low finesse enhancement cavity resonant with a low average power (<1W) and a high repetition rate (78MHz) pump source is shown to achieve more than 50% conversion efficiency into signal and idler from the coupled pump in an optical parametric process, whereas an equivalent amount of pump power in a single-pass configuration leads to negligible conversion. Additionally, the gain bandwidth is extended by a factor of 3-4 beyond the phase-matching limit. Our empirical observations are corroborated by a numerical analysis of depletion optimizing the single-pass case, which assesses the underlying impedance matching that is responsible for the observed performance improvements.

Octave-spanning mid-infrared femtosecond OPA in a ZnGeP2 pumped by a 2.4†µm Cr:ZnSe chirped-pulse amplifier.

We report on the highly efficient, octave-spanning mid-infrared (mid-IR) optical parametric amplification (OPA) in a ZnGeP2 (ZGP) crystal, pumped by a 1 kHz, 2.4 µm, 250 fs Cr:ZnSe chirped-pulse amplifier. The full spectral coverage of 3-10 µm with the amplified signal and idler beams is demonstrated. The signal beam in the range of ∼3 - 5 µm is produced by either white light generation (WLG) in YAG or optical parametric generation (OPG) in ZGP using the common 2.4 µm pump laser. We demonstrate the pump to signal and idler combined conversion efficiency of 23% and the pulse energy of up to 130 µJ with ∼2 µJ OPG seeding, while we obtain the efficiency of 10% and the pulse energy of 55 µJ with ∼0.2 µJ WLG seeding. The OPA output energy is limited by the available pump pulse energy (0.55 mJ at ZGP crystal) and therefore further energy scaling is feasible with multi-stage OPA and higher pump pulse energy. The autocorrelation measurements based on random quasi-phase matching show that the signal pulse durations are ∼318 fs and ∼330 fs with WLG and OPG seeding, respectively. In addition, we show the spectrally filtered 30 µJ OPA output at 4.15 µm suitable for seeding a Fe:ZnSe amplifier. Our ultrabroadband femtosecond mid-IR source is attractive for various applications, such as strong-field interactions, dielectric laser electron acceleration, molecular spectroscopy, and medical surgery.

Long-wavelength-infrared laser filamentation in solids in the near-single-cycle regime.

We experimentally demonstrate long-wavelength-infrared (LWIR) femtosecond filamentation in solids. Systematic investigations of supercontinuum (SC) generation and self-compression of the LWIR pulses assisted by laser filamentation are performed in bulk KrS-5 and ZnSe, pumped by ${\sim}{145}\;{\rm fs}$∼145fs, 9 µm, 10 µJ pulses from an optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier operating at 10 kHz of repetition rate. Multi-octave SC spectra are demonstrated in both materials. While forming stable single filament, 1.5 cycle LWIR pulses with 4.5 µJ output pulse energy are produced via soliton-like self-compression in a 5 mm thick KrS-5. The experimental results quantitatively agree well with the numerical simulation based on the unidirectional pulse propagation equation. This work shows the experimental feasibility of high-energy, near-single-cycle LWIR light bullet generation in solids.

Fiber-amplifier-pumped, 1-MHz, 1-µJ, 2.1-µm, femtosecond OPA with chirped-pulse DFG front-end.

High-repetition-rate, high-power, few-cycle mid-infrared lasers with carrier-envelope phase (CEP) stabilization are ideal driving sources for studying strong-field nonlinear processes, such as strong-field driven electron emission, solid-state high-harmonic generation, and nonlinear microscopy. Here, we report on a 1-MHz, 1-µJ, femtosecond, 2.1-µm optical parametric amplifier (OPA), pumped by a Yb-doped fiber chirped-pulse amplifier (CPA) and seeded by a chirped-pulse difference-frequency generation (DFG) front-end providing positively chirped 2.1-µm signal pulses. The home-built multi-stage 1030-nm Yb-doped fiber CPA pump laser generates >55-µJ near-transform-limited (245-fs) pulses at 1 MHz repetition rate using a novel 4-pass all-fiber stretcher/front-end for careful dispersion/spectral management. The chirped-pulse DFG scheme is achieved by wave-mixing the 1030 nm pump pulse with a dispersive wave at 645-735 nm generated in a photonic crystal fiber, allowing passive CEP stability of the 2.1-µm pulses. The 2.1-µm pulse is amplified to 1 µJ in a two-stage dispersion-managed optical parametric amplifier (OPA) with a pump energy of ~21 µJ resulting in 95-fs pulses with nice beam profile without additional pulse compression. Multi-µJ, sub-30 fs pulses can be obtained at full pump energy and additional dispersion compensation. The fiber-amplifier-based mid-infrared OPA can be directly applied to high-harmonic generation in solids and optical-field-driven nanophotonic devices and is a compact front-end for a future high-power, high-repetition-rate, long wavelengths CEP-stabilized source for gas-phase high-order harmonic generation.

Indistinguishable single-mode photons from spectrally engineered biphotons.

We use pulsed spontaneous parametric down-conversion in KTiOPO 4, with a Gaussian phase-matching function and a transform-limited Gaussian pump, to achieve near-unity spectral purity in heralded single photons at telecommunication wavelength. Theory shows that these phase-matching and pump conditions are sufficient to ensure that a biphoton state with a circularly symmetric joint spectral intensity profile is transform limited and factorable. We verify the heralded-state spectral purity in a four-fold coincidence measurement by performing Hong-Ou-Mandel interference between two independently generated heralded photons. With a mild spectral filter we obtain an interference visibility of 98.4±1.1% which corresponds to a heralded-state purity of 99.2%. Our heralded photon source is potentially an essential resource for measurement-based quantum information processing and quantum network applications.

Enhanced high-harmonic generation up to the soft X-ray region driven by mid-infrared pulses mixed with their third harmonic.

We systematically study the efficiency enhancement of high-harmonic generation (HHG) in an Ar gas cell up to the soft X-ray (SXR) range using a two-color laser field composed of 2.1 µm (ω) and 700 nm (3ω) with parallel linear polarization. Our experiment follows the recent theoretical investigations that determined two-color mid-infrared (IR) pulses, mixed with their third harmonic (ω + 3ω), to be close to optimal driving waveforms for enhancing HHG efficiency in the SXR region [Jin et al., Nature Comm. 5, 4003 (2014)]. We observed sub-optical-cycle-dependent efficiency enhancements of up to 8.2 of photon flux integrated between 20 - 70 eV, and up to 2.2 between 85 - 205 eV. Enhancement of HHG efficiency was most pronounced for the lowest tested backing pressure (≈ 140 mbar), and decreased monotonically as the pressure was increased. The single-color (ω)-driven HHG was optimal at the highest backing pressure tested in the experiment (≈ 375 mbar). Our numerical simulations based on single-atom response and 3D pulse propagation show good qualitative agreement with experimental observations. The lower enhancement at high pressure and higher photon energy indicates that phase matching of two-color-driven HHG is more sensitive to ionization rate and pulse propagation effects than the single-color case. We show that with further improvements to the relative phase jitter and the spatio-temporal overlap of the two beams, the efficiency enhancement could be further improved by at least a factor of ≈ 2.

Femtosecond 8.5 µm source based on intrapulse difference-frequency generation of 2.1 µm pulses.

We report on a femtosecond ∼8.5 µm, ∼2 µJ source based on the intrapulse difference-frequency generation (DFG) of 2.1 µm pulses in an AgGaSe2 (AGSe) crystal. Compared to the conventional ∼0.8 or 1 µm near-infrared (IR) pulses, a ∼2 µm driver for intrapulse DFG can provide more efficient conversion into the wavelengths longer than 5 µm due to a lower quantum defect and is more suitable for the non-oxide nonlinear crystals that have a relatively low bandgap energy. Using 26 fs, 2.1 µm pulses for type-II intrapulse DFG, we have generated intrinsically carrier-envelope phase-stable idler pulses with a conversion efficiency of 0.8%, which covers the wavelength range of 7-11 µm. Our simulation study shows that the blueshift of intrapulse DFG is assisted by self-phase modulation of the driving pulses in AGSe. The idler pulses are particularly useful for strong-field experiments in nanostructures, as well as for seeding parametric amplifiers in the long-wavelength IR.

Inhibition of multi-filamentation of high-power laser beams.

We experimentally demonstrate the control and complete elimination of multi-filamentation in condensed matter by varying the focusing geometry. In particular, increasing the input beam power enables the extension of the filament length without generating multi-filaments up to 1400 times the critical power in fused silica at an 800 nm wavelength. Furthermore, the generated single filament exhibits spatial solitary wave behavior.

High-energy, kHz, picosecond hybrid Yb-doped chirped-pulse amplifier.

We report on a diode-pumped, hybrid Yb-doped chirped-pulse amplification (CPA) laser system with a compact pulse stretcher and compressor, consisting of Yb-doped fiber preamplifiers, a room-temperature Yb:KYW regenerative amplifier (RGA), and cryogenic Yb:YAG multi-pass amplifiers. The RGA provides a relatively broad amplification bandwidth and thereby a long pulse duration to mitigate B-integral in the CPA chain. The ~1030-nm laser pulses are amplified up to 70 mJ at 1-kHz repetition rate, currently limited by available optics apertures, and then compressed to ~6 ps with high efficiency. The near-diffraction-limited beam focusing quality is demonstrated with M(x)(2) = 1.1 and M(y)(2) = 1.2. The shot-to-shot energy fluctuation is as low as ~1% (rms), and the long-term energy drift and beam pointing stability for over 8 hours measurement are ~3.5% and <6 µrad (rms), respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this hybrid laser system produces the most energetic picosecond pulses at kHz repetition rates among rod-type laser amplifiers. With an optically synchronized Ti:sapphire seed laser, it provides a versatile platform optimized for pumping optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification systems as well as driving inverse Compton scattered X-rays.

Optimal generation of high harmonics in the water-window region by synthesizing 800-nm and mid-infrared laser pulses.

We propose a method to optimally synthesize a strong 800-nm Ti:sapphire laser pulse and a relatively weak mid-infrared laser pulse to enhance harmonic yields in the water-window region. The required wavelength of the mid-infrared laser is varied from about 2.0 to 3.2 µm. The optimized waveforms generate comparable harmonic yields as the waveforms proposed in [Sci. Rep.4, 7067 (2014)], but with much weaker intensity for the mid-infrared laser. This method provides an alternative scheme based on the available laser technology to help realize tabletop light source in the water-window region by high-order harmonic generation.

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.

Three-octave-spanning supercontinuum generation and sub-two-cycle self-compression of mid-infrared filaments in dielectrics.

We experimentally and numerically investigate the spectral and temporal structure of mid-infrared (mid-IR) filaments in bulk dielectrics with normal and anomalous group velocity dispersion (GVD) pumped by a 2.1 µm optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier (OPCPA). The formation of stable and robust filaments with several microjoules of pulse energy is observed. We demonstrate a supercontinuum that spans more than three octaves from ZnS in the normal GVD regime and self-compression of the mid-IR pulse to sub-two-cycle duration in CaF2 in the anomalous GVD regime. The experimental observations quantitatively agree well with the numerical simulations based on a three-dimensional nonlinear wave equation that reveals the detailed spatio-temporal dynamics of mid-IR filaments in dielectrics.

Multi-mJ, kHz, ps deep-ultraviolet source.

We demonstrate a 0.56-GW, 1-kHz, 4.2-ps, 2.74-mJ deep-ultraviolet (DUV) laser at ∼257.7 nm with a beam propagation factor (M2) of ∼2.54 from a frequency-quadrupled cryogenic multi-stage Yb-doped chirped-pulse amplifier. The frequency quadrupling is achieved using LiB3O5 and ß-BaB2O4 crystals for near-infrared (NIR)-to-green and green-to-DUV conversion, respectively. An overall NIR-to-DUV efficiency of ∼10% has been achieved, which is currently limited by the thermal-induced phase mismatching and the DUV-induced degradation of transmittance. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest peak-power picosecond DUV source from a diode-pumped solid-state laser operating at kHz repetition rates.

Generation of Bright, Spatially Coherent Soft X-Ray High Harmonics in a Hollow Waveguide Using Two-Color Synthesized Laser Pulses.

We investigate the efficient generation of low-divergence high-order harmonics driven by waveform-optimized laser pulses in a gas-filled hollow waveguide. The drive waveform is obtained by synthesizing two-color laser pulses, optimized such that highest harmonic yields are emitted from each atom. Optimization of the gas pressure and waveguide configuration has enabled us to produce bright and spatially coherent harmonics extending from the extreme ultraviolet to soft x rays. Our study on the interplay among waveguide mode, atomic dispersion, and plasma effect uncovers how dynamic phase matching is accomplished and how an optimized waveform is maintained when optimal waveguide parameters (radius and length) and gas pressure are identified. Our analysis should help laboratory development in the generation of high-flux bright coherent soft x rays as tabletop light sources for applications.

Efficient generation of ultra-intense few-cycle radially polarized laser pulses.

We report on efficient generation of millijoule-level, kilohertz-repetition-rate few-cycle laser pulses with radial polarization by combining a gas-filled hollow-waveguide compression technique with a suitable polarization mode converter. Peak power levels >85 GW are routinely achieved, capable of reaching relativistic intensities >10(19) W/cm2 with carrier-envelope-phase control, by employing readily accessible ultrafast high-energy laser technology.

Multi-mJ, kHz, 2.1 µm optical parametric chirped-pulse amplifier and high-flux soft x-ray high-harmonic generation.

We report on a multi-mJ 2.1 µm optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification (OPCPA) system operating at 1 kHz repetition rate, pumped by a picosecond cryogenic Yb:YAG laser, and the demonstration of soft x-ray high-harmonic generation (HHG) with a flux of ∼2×10(8) photon/s/1% bandwidth at 160 eV in Ar. The 1 kHz cryogenic Yb:YAG pump laser amplifies pulses up to 56 mJ and delivers compressed 42 mJ, 17 ps pulses to the 2.1 µm OPCPA system. In the three-stage OPCPA chain, we have obtained up to 2.6 mJ of output energies at 2.1 µm and pulses compressed to 40 fs with good beam quality. Finally, we show cut-off extension of HHG driven by this 2.1 µm source in Ar and N2 gas cells to 190 eV with high photon flux. Our 3D propagation simulation confirms the generation of soft x-ray attosecond pulses from the experiment with Ar.

High conversion efficiency, high energy terahertz pulses by optical rectification in cryogenically cooled lithium niobate.

We demonstrate highly efficient terahertz (THz) generation by optical rectification (OR) of near-optimum pump pulses centered at 1.03 µm in cryogenically cooled lithium niobate. Using a close to optimal pulse duration of 680 fs and a pump energy of 1.2 mJ, we report conversion efficiencies above 3.8±0.4%, which is more than an order of magnitude higher than previously reported. The results confirm the advantage of using cryogenic cooling of the lithium niobate crystal that significantly reduces the THz absorption, enabling the scaling of THz pulse energies to the millijoule level via OR.

Wavelength scaling of high harmonic generation close to the multiphoton ionization regime.

We study the wavelength scaling of high harmonic generation efficiency with visible driver wavelengths in the transition between the tunneling and the multiphoton ionization regimes where the Keldysh parameter is around unity. Our experiment shows a less dramatic wavelength scaling of efficiency than the conventional case for near- and mid-IR driver wavelengths, and it is well explained by a generalized three-step model for increased Keldysh parameters that employs complex ionization times in addition to the nonadiabatic ionization. The complex ionization time is critical to avoid the divergence when replacing the quasistatic ionization model by the more general nonadiabatic ionization model. Together, the two modifications present a consistent description of the influence of the atomic potential on the rescattering process in the intermediate Keldysh regime.

Wavelength scaling of optimal hollow-core fiber compressors in the single-cycle limit.

We systematically investigate supercontinuum generation using three-dimensional numerical simulations of nonlinear femtosecond pulse propagation in hollow-core fibers (HCF) at different pump wavelengths ranging from 400 nm to 2 µm. A general design strategy for HCF compressors is presented, maximizing the spectral broadening while preserving high beam quality for given pump pulse energy, duration and wavelength. We show close fitting of the modeled results with simple analytical formulas, enabling the construction of high-energy pulse compressors at the wavelength range of interest. Based on the presented wavelength scaling study, we propose an orthogonally polarized two-color pumping scheme in a single HCF compressor for the coherent synthesis of the electric fields in the sub-cycle regime with mJ level energies.