Abstract

We report the generation of kilohertz-rate, amplified, sub-100-fsec-duration laser pulses tunable from 785 to 825 nm. A novel two-stage amplification scheme is used to produce amplified, tunable optical pulses, with microjoule energies. Diffraction-limited focusing of the amplified laser pulses in ethylene glycol to peak intensities greater than 10¹³ W/cm² results in the efficient generation of white-light continuum pulses with a bandwidth extending from 0.4 to 1.0 μm. This tunable laser system is well suited for sensitive femtosecond spectroscopic measurements in the near infrared, and its tunability may easily be extended to cover the wavelength range 600–900 nm.

© 1989 Optical Society of America

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