We demonstrate a versatile tunable and highly stable ultrabroadband Ti:sapphire chirped pulse amplification system with a compressed pulse energy of 20 mJ at 100 Hz repetition rate. High power Ti:Sa systems in principle do not offer wavelength tunability due to gain narrowing. Here we demonstrate transform limited pulse generation from 15 fs to 94 fs with tunable central wavelength (λ_c from 755 nm to 845 nm) and bandwidth (130nm<Δλ<16 nm) as well as multi-color, time synchronized, sub-100 fs pulses with user defined central wavelength separation. The unique wavelength tunability capabilities have been expanded into the UV and deep-UV by second and third harmonic generation with excellent energy stability. Enhanced energy stability is achieved by multiplexing six ultrastable diode-based solid state pump lasers.

© 2011 OSA

1. D. Strickland, P. Maine, and G. Mourou, “Generation of ultrahigh peak power pulses with the technique of chirped pulse amplification,” J. Opt. Soc. Am.3, 97 (1986).
2. A. Dubietis, G. Jonusauskas, and A. Piskarskas, “Powerful femtosecond pulse generation by chirped and stretched pulse parametric amplification in BBO crystal,” Opt. Commun.88(4-6), 437–440 (1992). [CrossRef]
3. A. Cianchi, D. Alesini, A. Bacci, M. Bellaveglia, R. Boni, M. Boscolo, M. Castellano, L. Catani, E. Chiadroni, S. Cialdi, A. Clozza, L. Cultrera, G. Di Pirro, A. Drago, A. Esposito, M. Ferrario, L. Ficcadenti, D. Filippetto, V. Fusco, A. Gallo, G. Gatti, A. Ghigo, L. Giannessi, C. Ligi, M. Mattioli, M. Migliorati, A. Mostacci, P. Musumeci, E. Pace, L. Palumbo, L. Pellegrino, M. Petrarca, M. Preger, M. Quattromini, R. Ricci, C. Ronsivalle, J. Rosenzweig, A. R. Rossi, C. Sanelli, L. Serafini, M. Serio, F. Sgamma, B. Spataro, F. Tazzioli, S. Tomassini, C. Vaccarezza, M. Vescovi, and C. Vicario, “High brightness electron beam emittance evolution measurements in an rf photoinjector,” Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams11(3), 032801 (2008). [CrossRef]
4. D. H. Dowell, J. Castro, P. Emma, J. Frisch, S. Gilevich, G. Hays, P. Hering, C. Limbrog-Deprey, H. Loos, A. Miahnahri, and W. White, “LCLS injector drive laser,” in Proceedings of PAC07, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, TUPMS058 (2007).
5. C. Vicario, R. Ganter, C. Hauri, S. Hunziker, F. Le Pimpec, C. Ruchert, and A. Trisorio, “Photocathode drive laser for SwissFEL,” in Proceedings of FEL’10, Malmoee, Sweden WEPB14 (2010).
6. C. P. Hauri, R. Ganter, F. Le Pimpec, A. Trisorio, C. Ruchert, and H. H. Braun, “Intrinsic emittance reduction of an electron beam from metal photocathodes,” Phys. Rev. Lett.104(23), 234802 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
7. A. Zholents, “Next generation X-ray free electron lasers,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron.99, 1–10 (2011).
8. M. B. Danailov, A. Demidovich, R. Ivanov, I. Nikolov, and P. Sigalotti, “Performances of the fermi FEL photoinjector laser,” in Proceedings of FEL 2007, Novosibirsk, Russia, WEPPH014 (2007).
9. TOPAS-white data sheet, Light Conversion Ltd., www.lightcon.com .
10. G. Lambert, M. Bougeard, W. Boutu, B. Carre, D. Garzella, M. Labat, M. E. Couprie, O. Chubar, T. Hara, H. Kitamura, and T. Shintake, “Seeding the FEL of the SCSS prototype accelerator with harmonics of a Ti:Sa laser produced in gas,” in Proceedings of FEL 2006, Bessy, Berlin, Germany, MOPPH046 (2006).
11. AS Photonics website: www.as-photonics.com/SNLO.html .
12. S. Chelkowski and D. Bandrauk, “Control of vibrational excitation and dissociation of small molecules by chirped intense inflared laser pulses,” Chem. Phys. Lett.186(2-3), 264–269 (1991). [CrossRef]
13. F. Eickemeyer, R. A. Kaindl, M. Woerner, T. Elsaesser, and A. M. Weiner, “Controlled shaping of ultrafast electric field transients in the mid-infrared spectral range,” Opt. Lett.25(19), 1472–1474 (2000). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
14. X. F. Li, A. L'Huillier, M. Ferray, L. A. Lompre, and G. Mainfray, ''Multiple-harmonic generation in rare gases at high laser intensity,” Phys. Rev. A39, 5751 (1989). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
15. K. Yamakawa and C. P. J. Barty, “Two-color chirped-pulse amplification in an ultrabroadband Ti:sapphire ring regenerative amplifier,” Opt. Lett.28(23), 2402–2404 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
16. C. P. J. Barty, G. Korn, F. Raksi, C. Rose-Petruck, J. Squier, A. C. Tien, K. R. Wilson, V. V. Yakovlev, and K. Yamakawa, “Regenerative pulse shaping and amplification of ultrabroadband optical pulses,” Opt. Lett.21(3), 219–221 (1996). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
17. F. Verluise, V. Laude, Z. Cheng, C. Spielmann, and P. Tournois, “Amplitude and phase control of ultrashort pulses by use of an acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter: pulse compression and shaping,” Opt. Lett.25(8), 575–577 (2000). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
18. C. P. Hauri, M. Bruck, W. Kornelis, J. Biegert, and U. Keller, “Generation of 14.8-fs pulses in a spatially dispersed amplifier,” Opt. Lett.29(2), 201–203 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
19. T. Oksenhendler, D. Kaplan, P. Tournois, G. M. Greetham, and F. Estable, “Intracavity acousto-optic programmable gain control for ultra-wide-band regenerative amplifiers,” Appl. Phys. B83(4), 491–494 (2006). [CrossRef]
20. H. Takada and K. Torizuka, “Design and construction of a TW-class 12 fs Ti:sapphire chirped pulse amplification system,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron.12(2), 201–212 (2006). [CrossRef]
21. A. Amani Eilanlou, Y. Nabekawa, K. L. Ishikawa, H. Takahashi, and K. Midorikawa, “Direct amplification of terawatt sub-10-fs pulses in a CPA system of Ti:sapphire laser,” Opt. Express16(17), 13431–13438 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
22. E. Zeek, R. Bartels, M. M. Murnane, H. C. Kapteyn, S. Backus, and G. Vdovin, “Adaptive pulse compression for transform-limited 15-fs high-energy pulse generation,” Opt. Lett.25(8), 587–589 (2000). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
23. J. F. Xia, J. Song, and D. Strickland, “Development of a dual-wavelength Ti:sapphire multi-pass amplifier and its application to intense mid-infrared generation,” Opt. Commun.206(1-3), 149–157 (2002). [CrossRef]
24. Litron website: www.litron.co.uk/pages/nano_trl.html

Other

• D. Strickland, P. Maine, and G. Mourou, “Generation of ultrahigh peak power pulses with the technique of chirped pulse amplification,” J. Opt. Soc. Am.3, 97 (1986).
• A. Dubietis, G. Jonusauskas, and A. Piskarskas, “Powerful femtosecond pulse generation by chirped and stretched pulse parametric amplification in BBO crystal,” Opt. Commun.88(4-6), 437–440 (1992). [CrossRef]
• A. Cianchi, D. Alesini, A. Bacci, M. Bellaveglia, R. Boni, M. Boscolo, M. Castellano, L. Catani, E. Chiadroni, S. Cialdi, A. Clozza, L. Cultrera, G. Di Pirro, A. Drago, A. Esposito, M. Ferrario, L. Ficcadenti, D. Filippetto, V. Fusco, A. Gallo, G. Gatti, A. Ghigo, L. Giannessi, C. Ligi, M. Mattioli, M. Migliorati, A. Mostacci, P. Musumeci, E. Pace, L. Palumbo, L. Pellegrino, M. Petrarca, M. Preger, M. Quattromini, R. Ricci, C. Ronsivalle, J. Rosenzweig, A. R. Rossi, C. Sanelli, L. Serafini, M. Serio, F. Sgamma, B. Spataro, F. Tazzioli, S. Tomassini, C. Vaccarezza, M. Vescovi, and C. Vicario, “High brightness electron beam emittance evolution measurements in an rf photoinjector,” Phys. Rev. ST Accel. Beams11(3), 032801 (2008). [CrossRef]
• D. H. Dowell, J. Castro, P. Emma, J. Frisch, S. Gilevich, G. Hays, P. Hering, C. Limbrog-Deprey, H. Loos, A. Miahnahri, and W. White, “LCLS injector drive laser,” in Proceedings of PAC07, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, TUPMS058 (2007).
• C. Vicario, R. Ganter, C. Hauri, S. Hunziker, F. Le Pimpec, C. Ruchert, and A. Trisorio, “Photocathode drive laser for SwissFEL,” in Proceedings of FEL’10, Malmoee, Sweden WEPB14 (2010).
• C. P. Hauri, R. Ganter, F. Le Pimpec, A. Trisorio, C. Ruchert, and H. H. Braun, “Intrinsic emittance reduction of an electron beam from metal photocathodes,” Phys. Rev. Lett.104(23), 234802 (2010). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• A. Zholents, “Next generation X-ray free electron lasers,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron.99, 1–10 (2011).
• M. B. Danailov, A. Demidovich, R. Ivanov, I. Nikolov, and P. Sigalotti, “Performances of the fermi FEL photoinjector laser,” in Proceedings of FEL 2007, Novosibirsk, Russia, WEPPH014 (2007).
• TOPAS-white data sheet, Light Conversion Ltd., www.lightcon.com .
• G. Lambert, M. Bougeard, W. Boutu, B. Carre, D. Garzella, M. Labat, M. E. Couprie, O. Chubar, T. Hara, H. Kitamura, and T. Shintake, “Seeding the FEL of the SCSS prototype accelerator with harmonics of a Ti:Sa laser produced in gas,” in Proceedings of FEL 2006, Bessy, Berlin, Germany, MOPPH046 (2006).
• AS Photonics website: www.as-photonics.com/SNLO.html .
• S. Chelkowski and D. Bandrauk, “Control of vibrational excitation and dissociation of small molecules by chirped intense inflared laser pulses,” Chem. Phys. Lett.186(2-3), 264–269 (1991). [CrossRef]
• F. Eickemeyer, R. A. Kaindl, M. Woerner, T. Elsaesser, and A. M. Weiner, “Controlled shaping of ultrafast electric field transients in the mid-infrared spectral range,” Opt. Lett.25(19), 1472–1474 (2000). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• X. F. Li, A. L'Huillier, M. Ferray, L. A. Lompre, and G. Mainfray, ''Multiple-harmonic generation in rare gases at high laser intensity,” Phys. Rev. A39, 5751 (1989). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• K. Yamakawa and C. P. J. Barty, “Two-color chirped-pulse amplification in an ultrabroadband Ti:sapphire ring regenerative amplifier,” Opt. Lett.28(23), 2402–2404 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• C. P. J. Barty, G. Korn, F. Raksi, C. Rose-Petruck, J. Squier, A. C. Tien, K. R. Wilson, V. V. Yakovlev, and K. Yamakawa, “Regenerative pulse shaping and amplification of ultrabroadband optical pulses,” Opt. Lett.21(3), 219–221 (1996). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• F. Verluise, V. Laude, Z. Cheng, C. Spielmann, and P. Tournois, “Amplitude and phase control of ultrashort pulses by use of an acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter: pulse compression and shaping,” Opt. Lett.25(8), 575–577 (2000). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• C. P. Hauri, M. Bruck, W. Kornelis, J. Biegert, and U. Keller, “Generation of 14.8-fs pulses in a spatially dispersed amplifier,” Opt. Lett.29(2), 201–203 (2004). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• T. Oksenhendler, D. Kaplan, P. Tournois, G. M. Greetham, and F. Estable, “Intracavity acousto-optic programmable gain control for ultra-wide-band regenerative amplifiers,” Appl. Phys. B83(4), 491–494 (2006). [CrossRef]
• H. Takada and K. Torizuka, “Design and construction of a TW-class 12 fs Ti:sapphire chirped pulse amplification system,” IEEE J. Sel. Top. Quantum Electron.12(2), 201–212 (2006). [CrossRef]
• A. Amani Eilanlou, Y. Nabekawa, K. L. Ishikawa, H. Takahashi, and K. Midorikawa, “Direct amplification of terawatt sub-10-fs pulses in a CPA system of Ti:sapphire laser,” Opt. Express16(17), 13431–13438 (2008). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• E. Zeek, R. Bartels, M. M. Murnane, H. C. Kapteyn, S. Backus, and G. Vdovin, “Adaptive pulse compression for transform-limited 15-fs high-energy pulse generation,” Opt. Lett.25(8), 587–589 (2000). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• J. F. Xia, J. Song, and D. Strickland, “Development of a dual-wavelength Ti:sapphire multi-pass amplifier and its application to intense mid-infrared generation,” Opt. Commun.206(1-3), 149–157 (2002). [CrossRef]
• Litron website: www.litron.co.uk/pages/nano_trl.html

Click here to see a list of articles that cite this paper

Related Journal Articles

• Double Gires—Tournois interferometer negative-dispersion mirrors for use in tunable mode-locked lasers (OL)
• Semiconductor saturable-absorber mirror assisted Kerr-lens mode-locked Ti:sapphire laser producing pulses in the two-cycle regime (OL)
• Ultrafast Picket Fence Pulse Trains to Enhance Frequency Conversion of Shaped Inertial Confinement Fusion Laser Pulses (AO)
• Nonlinearity management: a route to high-energy soliton fiber lasers (JOSAB)
• Spatiotemporal measurements based on spatial spectral interferometry for ultrashort optical pulses shaped by a Fourier pulse shaper (JOSAB)

Related Conference Papers

• Grism Based Stretcher/Compressor System for Amplified, Femtosecond Kilohertz Lasers
• Temporal Superresolution for Sub-Two Cycle Pulses
• Ultrawideband Regenerative Amplifiers via Intracavity Acousto-Optic Programmable Gain Control
• High Efficiency and High Resolution Prism-Based Pulse Shaper
• High Efficiency and High Resolution Prism-Based Pulse Shaper