Generation of 45 femtosecond pulses at 3 μm with a KNbO3 optical parametric amplifier

Abstract We present the design and characterization of a two-stage Ti:sapphire-pumped optical parametric amplifier based on BBO and KNbO 3 . After compression, the pulses are 45 fs in duration with 400 cm −1 of bandwidth in the 3 μm wavelength range which is important for spectroscopy of hydride stretching vibrations. We discuss the choice of nonlinear crystals for each stage, describe the compression of mid-infrared pulses using materials with normal and anomalous dispersion, and characterize the output after each stage of the OPA.

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