Spectral line

Detector

Materials science

Pulse duration

Pulse (music)

Telecommunications

Computer science

Laser

Physics

Optics

Astronomy

Pulse compression

Chirped pulse amplification

Composite material

Compression (physics)

Radar

Optoelectronics

Ultrashort pulse

Doppler broadening

Applied Physics Letters

We investigate the potential of a multi-plate medium consisting of thin fused silica plates to generate few-cycle pulses from a moderately high energy (400 μJ) and average power (20 W) Yb:KGW laser centered at 1025 nm. By optimizing the thicknesses and positions of the plates, we mitigate the losses associated with spatial and spectral distortions that can accompany self-focusing in bulk solids. Pulses with an initial duration of ∼280 fs were compressed using chirped mirrors, after spectral broadening in a multi-plate medium consisting of 6 mm of fused silica in total, by a factor of &amp;gt;5 to 50 fs. Further spectral broadening in a second stage also consisting of 6 mm of fused silica in total enabled compression to 18 fs with 40 μJ pulse energy, with the energy efficiency limited primarily by the geometry of the chirped mirror compressors.

Spectral broadening and pulse compression of a 400 <i>μ</i>J, 20 W Yb:KGW laser using a multi-plate medium

Spectral broadening and pulse compression of a 400 μJ, 20 W Yb:KGW laser using a multi-plate medium