Ultrafast double-slab regenerative amplifier with combined gain spectra

Conventional diode-pumped ultrafast amplifier systems based on Ytterbium-doped monoclinic double tungstates, such as Yb:KYW and Yb:KGW, generate pulses with energies in the µJ range and durations of around 300 fs [1, 2]. This value results from a limited gain bandwidth and the effect of gain narrowing. To achieve pulse durations well below 300 fs, spectral broadening techniques have to be used. In our setup we combined two partially overlapping broadband gain spectra to enhance the effective gain bandwidth and to counteract the effect of gain narrowing. This concept has already been demonstrated with an Yb:KYW regenerative amplifier with a combination of two gain spectra from a single thin disk [3].

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