Abstract

We present a new optical post-compression technique designed for high-energy ultrashort pulses. A large spectral broadening is achieved through rapid ionization of helium by an intense pulse $(>{10}^{15}\mathrm{W}∕{\mathrm{cm}}^2)$ propagating in a capillary filled with low-pressure helium. The blueshifted pulses are re-compressed with chirped mirrors and silica plates. From a terawatt Ti:sapphire laser chain providing pulses of $40\mathrm{fs}$, $70\mathrm{mJ}$, we demonstrate the compression of pulses down to $11.4\mathrm{fs}$ (FWHM) with a total output energy of $13.7\mathrm{mJ}$.

© 2010 Optical Society of America

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