Abstract

Generation of sub-3-cycle light pulses requires nonlinear propagation in gas-filled hollow fibers, or self filamentation, and subsequent compression with specifically designed chirped mirrors. Self-compression, without chirped mirrors, was predicted [1] for the Ti:Sapphire wavelength range, and shown to yield an elongated pulse structure with a 3-cycle feature [2]. The compression of mid-IR optical pulses to the few-cycle regime is particularly challenging due to the tremendous spectral width involved and high quality chirped mirrors are unavailable.

© 2013 IEEE