Abstract

Optical parametric generation has been one of the most effective techniques in the generation of broadly tunable wavelengths in the visible and infrared (IR) in the femtosecond regime. Kilohertz optical parametric amplifiers (OPAs), especially, have the advantage of producing high-energy signal and idler pulses, which can be further frequency mixed to produce femtosecond pulses tunable in ultraviolet and mid-IR region. Recent advances in high-power kilohertz amplifier development have allowed us to use 5 mJ of sub-100 femtosecond pulses to pump our OPA at 1 kHz repetition rate and to achieve output energy levels previously not attainable.

© 1996 Optical Society of America