Mid IR Ultrafast Laser System for High Field Physics

The Department of Energy seeks the development of advanced, ultrafast x-ray sources based on high-harmonic generation. Improvements in the technology will come from the use of driving lasers operating at wavelengths longer than those used in the incumbent Ti:sapphire-based systems. These current laser systems suffer from complexity due to the use of multiple nonlinear stages to achieve the desired wavelength, and they have issues with power scaling. This project will develop a novel, mid-infrared 100-femtosecond-pulse, high-pulse-energy hybrid laser system utilizing fiber and solid-state lasers. Phase I demonstrated the operation of a fiber laser-pumped femtosecond mid-IR solid-state laser. This laser was shown to be suitable as a seed source for a high-power mid-IR amplified femtosecond laser system. Phase II will develop a fiber laser-pumped femtosecond oscillator-regenerative amplifier laser system, with milliJoules output at kHz repetition rate. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The proposed laser system should find use as a new tool for fundamental high-field-physics studies. It also should serve as a laser driver for a variety of applications, such as environmental analysis, remote-sensing, spectroscopy, and medicine.