Toptica Photonics Ag

Axel Friedenauer

Robert Herda

Wilhelm Kaenders

It is an object of the invention to provide a method and a corresponding laser system that are simple and robust and that are able to provide sub-100 fs laser pulses using nonlinear frequency-conversion. The method of the invention comprises the steps of generating pulsed laser radiation at a fundamental wavelength, increasing the spectral bandwidth of the laser radiation by passing the laser radiation through a periodically poled nonlinear crystal material whose poling period is larger than or smaller than the poling period satisfying the quasi-phase-matching condition at the fundamental wavelength, and frequency-converting the spectrally broadened laser radiation. The laser system of the invention comprises a laser source generating pulsed laser radiation at a fundamental wavelength, a first periodically poled nonlinear crystal section arranged in the beam path and having a poling period larger than or smaller than the poling period satisfying the quasi-phase-matching condition at the fundamental wavelength to spectrally broaden the laser radiation, and a second periodically poled nonlinear crystal section arranged in the beam path downstream of the first section, wherein the second section is quasi-phase-matched at the fundamental wavelength to frequency-convert the laser radiation.

Generation of ultrashort laser pulses

A laser system includes a laser light source which emits electromagnetic radiation, at least one optical amplifier which amplifies the radiation emitted from the laser light source, and a frequency multiplier which converts the amplified radiation by resonant frequency multiplying and/or summation-frequency generating. The laser system has a modulation facility which causes a modulation of the electromagnetic radiation emitted from the laser light source in such a manner that the spectrum encompasses a carrier frequency and at least one sideband, with the frequency multiplier being resonant at the carrier frequency and at the frequency of the at least one sideband.

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Munich, Germany

Axel Friedenauer