Abstract

Femtosecond optical pulses have been amplified to the microjoule energy level at repetition rates of 5-10 kHz using a copper vapor laser pump source.¹ Amplified pulse widths as short as 35 fs have now been obtained. These pulses when focused to near the diffraction limit produce intensities of >10¹³ W/cm² (corresponding to a flux of >1 J/cm²) making efficient continuum generation possible. Continuum generation is of great importance for general femtosecond spectroscopic investigation. Continuum properties such as focusability, energy threshold, and stability have been investigated. System stability, scaling to other repetition rates, wavelengths, and powers are discussed in this presentation.

© 1985 Optical Society of America