Highly efficient optical parametric amplifier tunable from near- to mid-IR for driving extreme nonlinear optics in solids

Abstract

We have developed a robust optical parametric amplifier (OPA) based on three-AgGaS-crystal pumping by a Cr:Forsterite GW femtosecond laser system, generating 150 fs pulses in dual bands of 1.6-2.0 μm (signal wave) and 3.5-5.5 μm (idler wave). By introducing a negative prechirp to the pump, a combined efficiency in two waves of greater than 10% was achieved, with signal energy up to 110 μJ and idler energy up to 43 μJ. Operation parameters of the system (intensity up to 90 TW/cm) make OPA a promising tool for driving nonlinear optical phenomena, including generation of optical harmonics and laser-induced extreme states of matter in solids and liquids. As a proof of principle, we generated harmonics up to the sixth order and sum frequencies in 5 mm thick polycrystalline ZnSe.

Super-Gain Optical Parametric Amplification in Dielectric Micro-Resonators via BFGS Algorithm-Based Non-Linear Programming

“…The stored electric energy density and the polarization density must be simultaneously high for a significant stimulus wave amplification. The stored electric energy density indicates the achievable order of stimulus wave amplification [14,15], and the polarization density acts as a coupling coefficient, which is a measure of how much stored electric energy can be coupled to the stimulus wave.…”

“…The stored electric energy density indicates the achievable order of stimulus wave amplification [14,15], and the polarization density acts as a coupling coefficient, which is a measure of how much stored electric energy can be coupled to the stimulus wave. The time variation of the spectrally broadened (polychromatic) stimulus wave between t = 6.6 picoseconds and t = 10 picoseconds is shown in Figure 6.…”

“…Resonance f requency o f the medium : f 0 = 1.1 × 1015 HzDamping rate o f the medium : γ = 1 × 1012 HzDielectric coe f f icient o f the medium (ε ∞ ) = 1 + χ = 10 (µ r = 1) Le f t PML (le f t absorption layer) is f rom x = 0 to x = 2.25µmRight PML (right absorption layer) is f rom x = 7.75µm to x = 10µm Appl. Sci.…”

Numerical Study of Resonant Optical Parametric Amplification via Gain Factor Optimization in Dispersive Microresonators

“…Dielectric breakdown in dispersive media occurs at an optical intensity level of TW/cm 2 and beyond. Therefore, at this amplitude the pump wave would not induce dielectric breakdown and would not pose an optical hazard to the medium of interaction [13][14][15]. 3The temporal walk-off between the interacting waves that stems from the dispersion of the medium limits the effective interaction length.…”

High-Fidelity Harmonic Generation in Optical Micro-Resonators Using BFGS Algorithm

“…A computational study that is based on maximizing the harmonic generation efficiency via a nonlinear programming algorithm is lacking [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]. Experimental studies usually focus on finding new techniques to increase the second and the third harmonic generation efficiency and there are relatively few experimental studies that have demonstrated a minor increase in the harmonic generation or conversion efficiency via certain experimental configurations and setups [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ]. Some computational studies have focused on increasing the computation efficiency of harmonic generation problems rather than proving that the harmonic generation efficiency itself can actually be increased.…”